Southampton host Super Cup winners Liverpool at St Mary’s

Southampton look to bounce back from the dismal 3-0 defeat at Burnley on the opening day as they welcome Liverpool to the south coast.

Liverpool are off the back of a UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea in Istanbul on Tuesday. Sadio Mane scored twice as they game went all the way through extra-time into penalties, with Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham missing the vital penalty.

Southampton had a full week to mull over that loss at Burnley, Ralph Hassenhuttl saw his side collapse within 12 second half minutes after being well in the game prior. Jannik Vestegaard made a huge mistake which saw Ashley Barnes capitalise to open the scoring. They could call on new signing Kevin Danso, who joined the club on deadline day, to shore up that back-line.

Team news

Southampton have a clean bill of health going into this game, with the only concern would be the match fitness of Danso. Hassenhuttl should be able to recall captain Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg after he fell sick on the way to Turf Moor last week.

Liverpool may find themselves with a goalkeeper crisis, with Alisson Becker out for a number of weeks with a calf injury, Adrian came into the side but was injured in a freak accident when celebrating the Super Cup win on Tuesday night. That could mean a record breaking Premier League debut for 35-year-old Andy Lonergan. (Oldest English debutant in the Premier League).

Ralph Hassenhuttl

Hassenhuttl was happy Liverpool went to the wire against Chelsea, but doesn’t think it gives his side a fitness advantage:

“I was happy that they were playing longer, but this is because I have more pictures to show my players.”

“Last year Liverpool played 13 times in the week, and in the 13 times they played, at the weekend they won 11. This team has so much quality, but Jurgen puts in a little bit of excuse for his players fitness.

“But they have such quality it is not a problem for them to come here and make a quality game. In modern football, and with these big teams, they get used to it. We’re at the beginning of the season and they won’t be tired.”

“We are preparing for the best possible Liverpool team.”

Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp gave an update on Adrian in his press conference, giving the impression he might yet make it back for the game against the Saints:

 “Yesterday it was swollen, today I spoke to him and he said ‘it’s much better than yesterday’ but we have to see.

“He will not go for a scan. It went down already. You can imagine you have that and you fly four hours back and it doesn’t help swelling, so he couldn’t have played directly after we landed in Liverpool.

“But I saw him now, it’s OK and it looks better. But a decision will be made tomorrow, no chance to make it earlier.”

Expected line-ups

Southampton (5-3-2) – Gunn; Valery, Bednarek, Vestegaard, Stephens, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Redmond, Adams

Liverpool (4-3-3) – Lonergan; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho; Mane, Firmino, Salah