Liverpool will host Southampton this weekend looking for a seventh consecutive win, one that will take them back to the top of the Premier League.
Ahead of the game, I spoke to Ste Halliwell, Jonathan Higgins and Jack Sear to get their thoughts on the match.
This game isn’t live on TV and it is surrounded by games against the likes of Tottenham, PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. Do you have any worries that it might be a game where the focus and intensity, of both players and the crowd, aren’t quite right?
Ste: In seasons gone by, that may have been the case but I think this season is different. After the dust had settled on the Champions League Final, it felt like everyone associated with the club thought that this was only the beginning and there was only positivity about the future. We then go into the summer and arguably have the best window out of all our rivals. We addressed all the key areas and although Nabil Fekir didn’t come in, we added strength in depth to our squad. We go and win our first bunch of games without really getting out of third gear as well. I think the players have already proven that they mean business from the way we have gone about our opening games against the so-called lesser teams but also against Spurs and PSG. I see that continuing on Saturday with another professional performance against a team who will struggle to finish top 10.
Jonathan: Without sounding overconfident, no not at all! There is far too much at stake. A win not only ensures another vital three points but will see Klopp’s side make history as it will be the best start for a Liverpool team ever. Spirits and confidence levels will be high after the dramatic late winner on Wednesday night.
The strength of our bench has been well documented, you only have to look at the impact our substitutes made in the last quarter of the game against PSG. As a result, there are a number of players chomping at the bit to be involved and anyone starting knows if their performances aren’t above par, they will be replaced. Everyone wants to be involved so I can imagine training sessions are quite competitive at the moment. Also as a sub-plot, there are a number of former Southampton players in our squad so motivation for them won’t be an issue!
Jack: I can understand why this might be seen as a worry. It was something that Klopp brought up in his press conference on Friday. Everyone has been speaking about Liverpool’s hectic schedule for the next few weeks, but nobody has mentioned Southampton. Klopp said he wanted fans to treat it like a European night at Anfield. I’m sure he won’t allow the players to take their foot off the gas at all. An early goal would be a big help of course!
Mark Hughes will likely set his team up to defend deep. Are you confident that Liverpool, with a front three that’s not quite firing on all cylinders, can break them down?
Ste: They certainly will do – but to do it for 90 minutes at Anfield, against this team, is a very, very tough ask. Almost every team who will come to Anfield this season will sit back and defend deep but I’ve seen enough already to suggest that we will find a way to win. We aren’t particularly winning in style at the moment but we are finding a way and that is something we haven’t been able to do consistently under Klopp, especially in the league. You look at our bench and if it does get to 60 minutes and we still haven’t managed to break them down, the options Klopp has available to him are hungry, quality players ready to impress, and fight. Just look at PSG’s bench in the week and then look at ours. Madness. Our subs win us that game in the end. Once it eventually does click, we will be blowing these teams away, just like we were the back end of last season.
Jonathan: I fully expect an all-out low block and the full volume of the Mark Hughes dark arts box set. While nobody is denying our front three aren’t at their full, dynamic best, they still are a very dangerous proposal and must be a defender’s nightmare. Take, for instance, a fired up Sadio Mane with a point to prove to his former team… Southampton fans can’t be looking forward to that!
While the front three grab all of the attention, I think the key to breaking down Southampton will be quick passing and movement from deeper. Our midfield needs to be quick and energetic.
Jack: You used to look at a game like this and feel slightly anxious about Liverpool’s chances of breaking down a deep-lying side, but I think we have the quality and the know-how to see off the vast majority of these teams now. I’m not convinced Southampton will be the most organised side at the back, either. As for the front three, they haven’t started the season at their best, but they’ve still been deadly at times and I expect us to have enough to get another three points.
How many changes from the team that started against PSG do you anticipate Jurgen Klopp making for this game?
Ste: Roberto Firmino will come back in to lead the line and I think Naby Keita will start in midfield, likely in place of Jordan Henderson.
Jonathan: I expect two changes, Firmino to come back and resume up front, with Daniel Sturridge to start the League Cup game against Chelsea in midweek. I also expect Naby Keita to replace Jordon Henderson in midfield. For a game like this, personally, I would prefer to play Gini as the number six. He offers more energy and attacking threat from there which I feel will be vital in this type of game. Keita will add more energy and legs to midfield and his direct forward running will be key to breaking down a defensive structure.
Jack: I think the team will be fairly similar again. We’ve had a decent amount of recovery time from Tuesday to Saturday and I think Klopp will see the League Cup game vs Chelsea as an opportunity to bring in more players that haven’t featured too much this season. I think he’s still protecting Jordan Henderson a bit after the World Cup and he’ll want Naby Keita to keep up a decent rhythm of matches. I’d say two changes, Keita for Henderson and Firmino for Sturridge.
Finally, care to make a prediction?
Ste: 3-0 to Liverpool. Salah to score twice in the first half and Firmino to score with his goggles on in the second!
Jonathan: 3-0 to the Reds.
Jack: I’ll go with 3-1 to the Reds. Hopefully, Salah gets back in the goals and we can box off the game fairly early on and make some changes.
