Wasteful Liverpool held by Southampton in scoreless draw

Southampton vs Liverpool is set to begin at 8.30pm IST, 3pm GMT, 10am ET. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day on BBC One from 10.30pm GMT. Team news Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand face late fitness tests but Southampton are hopeful the pair will be fit along with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (knock) and Dusan Tadic (broken nose). A clean sheet to silence those who say his team can not defend.

Liverpool was understandably not at its effervescent best Saturday afternoon given the interlude, which robbed the club of Adam Lallana and saw Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino only report to Melwood on Thursday.

Expectations were high with Liverpool scoring 12 goals in their past three games, but they were unable to continue that form against the resilient Saints.

Both Wijnaldum and Can scored in Liverpool’s last game, so hopefully one or both will step up again at St. Mary’s.

Southampton’s approach showed just how much respect (some may even call it fear) opposing sides now have for Jurgen Klopp’s team. They are unbeaten in their last nine games, picking up seven wins and two draws in the process.

Klopp also insisted that there was no risk in starting Coutinho, despite the midfielder having returned from Brazil duty with a hamstring complaint.

Saints were still mounting only isolated forays into the Liverpool half and when Charlie Austin got into the penalty area and looked for support, the nearest teammate was barely in the same half of the pitch.

“I think all the players are OK and there won’t be any surprises”.

Around the half-hour mark, the Brazilian playmaker played a pin-point ball into the box for Joel Matip, but his shot was charged down by some excellent, albeit desperate, defending.

Speaking after the game, the German said: “We had enough chances to win the game, especially in the second half, and our reaction in the second half was really good”.

“It is tight at the top but not only for us”.

Having cruised to well-worn victories in 5 of their 8 wins thus far, the Red half of Merseyside looks nearly unstoppable, and as they play Southampton away from the electrifying atmosphere at Anfield, many are eager to know if their explosive form will continue against Claude Puel’s charges.

“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 haven’t seen all my players until now.