Liverpool: Early league leaders alongside Chelsea, the 'Merseysiders' have been handed a boost for this match with Brazilian Roberto Firmino fit to start again after recovering from an abrasion to the eye suffered against Tottenham last week. Also nearing full fitness, after restarting full training this week, are Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana, but both will not be ready in time for this fixture. Dominic Solanke, Divock Origi, and long-term doubt Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all sidelined with respective knocks. Regardless of these problems, Liverpool will look to win their sixth consecutive league game after beating Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Southampton: The visitors are facing a striker crisis for this clash. A fresh injury concern for Manolo Gabbiadini means that he faces a late fitness test to determine whether a lower hamstring problem picked up in training will rule him out. Also the 'Saints' will be without in form Danny Ings who is ineligible to play against his parent club. Despite these worries, the' Saints' will be looking to bounce back after a late equaliser saw them drop two points at home to Brighton on Monday.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Southampton and reaching 600 games as a Manager:
"Southampton will come here with a match plan and we'll have to find a solution. Are we ready to create the best atmosphere of all games? That would be cool. We need to show Southampton how difficult it is to come to Anfield."
"My view on football will never be different. I love the game. There are a lot of better managers than me out there, but that has never stopped me from doing my best."
Southampton boss Mark Hughes on Liverpool:
"The importance from our point of view is that, in my view, we’re playing ok. We’re on the back of three games unbeaten so if you’re going to go to Anfield you need to go with confidence in what you’re trying to do. That’s what we’ll try and show on the day. It’s important that we continue to progress and keep building our own performances – if we do that then we’ll be fine.”
Did you know?
This will be the 86th competitive contest between the clubs
Liverpool won both league games between these sides last season. However the season before, Southampton got the better of their rivals on two occasions, one in the League and one in the EFL Cup, and other League meeting ended goalless.
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four Premier League matches against Southampton – the Reds' longest current run in the competition.
Possible lineups:
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mané.
Southampton: McCarthy; Soares, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand, Elyounoussi, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Austin, Long.