Liverpool team v Southampton released: Coutinho starts despite hamstring concern

Star man Philippe Coutinho also starts, while Dejan Lovren is back in the centre of defence. Sadio Mane will start on the right side. That history now always makes this game spikey.

After that consideration, I predict Liverpool will win 2-1.

And Liverpool should have scored when Firmino and Coutinho broke away against a single defender, but although Firmino’s pass was flawless, Coutinho’s shot was nothing of the sort, a horrid shank that took the ball away from goal rather than towards it. “The visitors could pay the penalty of World Cup weariness”.

Goal! Southampton will play Liverpool in a match where there should be plenty of goals and action at St. Mary’s Stadium.

“I think all the players are OK and there won’t be any surprises”. It’s important other players have the possibility to score: offensive midfielders, defenders from free-kicks.

However, Klopp moved quickly in June when the chance to add the Senegal worldwide to his Liverpool side for around £35 million became apparent. “The result is not ideal, but the performance was much better than we could have expected, when we think about our preparation for the game”.

“Around about three months later I would have punched myself so I knew already that the next chance I had I would take it”.

“I could see it in his face, in his attitude in training and with the fun he had in the session”.

Lallana was immediately ruled out of Liverpool’s Premier League stalemate at Southampton on Saturday – a game in which his presence was sorely missed.

Think you can do better than Lawro?

Eleven of Liverpool’s 14 games in all competitions have featured at least three goals, as have four of their last five meetings with Saints at St Mary’s.

Southampton have conceded 12 league goals and are allowing a league-low 9.4 shots per contest.

Defeats by Chelsea and Hull would have been more positive results had they taken their chances, and, although willing to rotate his team, Puel sees little reason for them to change their style.

Only Liverpool and Manchester United (both 16) have won more top-flight matches than Southampton (15) in 2016. Claude Puel’s side have been impressive this season, but their crippling injury list could be their undoing as they head towards a busy Christmas period.

“Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes there is no psychological advantage to be gained from being Premier League leaders in November”.

Southampton were obviously very wary of Liverpool’s attacking threat and looked dead set against giving them the space to attack early on. They defeated Watford by scoring six goals in their last Premier League match.

Lucas, Liverpool’s longest serving squad member, has been involved in two serious Liverpool title challenges in the past (2008/09 and 2013/14) and knows it is impossible to count on anything until everything is sewn up.

Probability of away win: 41%.