In the race for the top four, this is a big one.
Liverpool’s grandmaster of the adjective, Brendan Rogers, would even struggle to find the words to describe Southampton’s season.
Their summer consisted of bigger clubs, such as Liverpool, treating their squad like an á la carte in a country hotel.
Liverpool’s meat and two veg was Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren.
Granted, only Lallana has come close to filling the gap in Liverpool’s side, but most still thought Southampton would struggle without these three.
But Ronald Koeman is far too good a manager to let that happen.
The Dutchman took stock and made signings which made the Saint’s faithful ask “Rickie who? I think I remember a La-lambalama. Lovren? Yeah, I’m lov’n our new team.”
Now they face Liverpool in what is possibly the most important match of both side’s seasons.
Southampton have only lost once in their last nine league games but the goals haven’t been as free flowing as they were earlier in the season. They haven’t found the net in their last two home games at St Mary’s.
Liverpool’s new and lucky improved defence will fancy their chances of keeping a clean sheet, so we’re backing Southampton to not find the net.
Daniel Sturridge – a sub today – is slowly, but surely, finding his sharpness again. We’re backing him to score the only goal of the game and help Liverpool continue their climb-up the league ladder.
