Reds host Saints as Danny Ings returns to former club

Liverpool take on Southampton as two gegenpressing managers face off for the third time.

And with Liverpool already at the 70 point mark (to put it into perspective, that’s twice plus eight of what their visitors have got), it is going to be very difficult for the Austrian, Ralph Hassenhuttl, to get anything from the now called ‘Fortress Anfield’.

Let’s again put it into perspective. Liverpool simply on their home record would be fourth in the Premier League. Their away record would be fifth. This is madness.

By Jurgen Klopp’s admission though the two hardest sides to play outside the big six are “Wolverhampton and Southampton”. The Saints have certainly become a well drilled pressing outfit since their 9-0 drubbing at the hands of Leicester City and find themselves ninth in the table.

Their talisman and top scorer, former Red Danny Ings, has hit 14 league goals this season and tipped for an England call-up for EURO 2020.

In August, the two sides met at St Mary’s and Ings was on the scoresheet – but in vain. Strikes from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino preceded a mistake from Adrian who rebounded onto Ings.

Team news

Mane, James Milner, Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne will all miss out for sure with Divock Origi and Adam Lallana expected to be fit.

It is thought to be between new boy Takumi Minamino and Curtis Jones for a starting berth this weekend.

Shane Long, Jan Vestergaard and Yan Valery are back fit and are expected to be in the squad, with new signing Kyle Walker-Peters to join them.

Stuart Armstrong is ruled out with a pelvic problem.

From the Dugout:

Jurgen Klopp:

“The turnaround is exceptional. I won Manager of the Month but for me, it was him [Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl].

“It’s an incredible job, you see them now playing, yes they lost against Wolves, but the two teams now, in the moment you do not want to face are Wolves and Southampton.

“Southampton look like a pressing machine.”

Ralph Hasenhuttl:

“It would be normal that we lose, but this season is everything but not normal for us.

“We are in a good shape, we have a few problems with injuries, but the squad is concentrating and working.

“We know about the difficulty of this challenge, but we need this challenge if you want to go to the next level in your development.”

Head-to-head

Liverpool Wins – 56

Draws – 25

Southampton – 30