Premier League | Gameweek 12

Nov 24, 2024 at 2pm UK

St. Mary's Stadium

Southamptonvs.Liverpool

Match preview

Before the stunning video of Premier League referee David Coote allegedly bad-mouthing Juergen Klopp and Liverpool leaked onto social media, the suspended official was the man at the heart of the Reds' 15th win in 17 games under Arne Slot in all competitions.

Efforts on both sides of the half-time whistle from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah ensured the Merseyside giants went into the international break five points clear of struggling champions Manchester City, who lost further ground with their shock reverse at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Liverpool are also the best team in Europe this season, as far as the 36-team Champions League is concerned, and their outstanding start to life under Slot appears to be more than just the usual new manager bounce-back as they go for a fifth successive win in all competitions this weekend.

Having already smashed Liverpool's managerial records left, right and centre, Slot could now become the first Reds manager to record 10 Premier League victories in his first 12 games in charge, a feat only ex-Chelsea bosses Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have achieved in the competition's history.

The former Feyenoord boss is also yet to be beaten away from home as the Reds' manager, and Sunday's visitors have scored in six of their last seven away games in all competitions - grim reading for the Southampton faithful.

On cloud nine after beating Everton for their first win of the Premier League season, Southampton were determined to prevent Wolverhampton Wanderers from achieving the same result in round 11, but their game plan was shattered when Pablo Sarabia struck inside the opening two minutes.

While Saints were unable to respond to the Spaniard's quick strike, Wolves' Matheus Cunha thunderbolt at the start of the second period brought Russell Martin's men back down to earth with a long-overdue three points.

More importantly, Southampton's 2-0 defeat in the West Midlands saw Wolves move into the bottom half of the Premier League table, and even if they can shock Slot and Co, the 20th-placed hosts will be unable to climb above the dotted line, four points adrift of 17th-placed Ipswich Town at the time of writing.

The fact that they have beaten Everton and Stoke City in their last two home games offers a glimmer of hope, as does the fact that they have scored in each of their last four trips to St Mary's - and, unbelievably, Southampton have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games against the team who started the day at the top of the table.

That run includes a 1-0 win over Liverpool in January 2021, but Southampton have since lost five and drawn one of their last six meetings with the Reds, succumbing to the superiority of Klopp's Young Guns in a 3-0 FA Cup defeat in February.

Recent Performance

Southampton Premier League form:LLLLWL

Southampton form (all competitions):LLLWWL

Liverpool Premier League form:WWWDWW

Liverpool form (all competitions):WDWWWW

Team News

Liverpool's success against Villa was slightly overshadowed by the withdrawal of Trent Alexander-Arnold from the England squad after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half, while fellow central defender Virgil van Dijk was released early from the Netherlands squad for "medical reasons".

Slot confirmed on Friday morning that Van Dijk will be ready to play on Sunday, but Alexander-Arnold is not training with the squad and will miss the trip to St Mary's, along with Alisson Becker (hamstring), Diogo Jota (abdomen) and Federico Chiesa (fitness).

However, Harvey Elliott has returned to full training after suffering a broken foot and could make his long-awaited comeback against the Saints, with Conor Bradley set to replace Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

As for Southampton's availability, Martin has lost two of his own defensive cornerstones at the worst possible time, with Aaron Ramsdale (finger) and Jan Bednarek (knee) facing weeks on the sidelines.

The pair join long-term absentees Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Ross Stewart (hamstring) and William Smallbone (hamstring) in the medical room, but Flynn Downes (knee) and Ryan Fraser (illness) are both expected to be involved after missing the Wolves defeat.

Alex McCarthy for Ramsdale is a straight swap in goal, and Martin may move Yukinari Sugawara into a central defensive role in place of Bednarek, unless Nathan Wood finally makes his first Premier League start of the season.

Possible starting lineup

Southampton possible starting lineup:

McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Sugawara, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Armstrong, Downes, Aribo, Fernandes; Archer

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Nunez