610 replies to this topic

[Uberkoen]

It might be a bit early for this but I'm excited! Can't wait to watch the lads come out again and play the way they've been doing.

 

Southampton are 16th on the table. Only 4 points above the relegation zone. They'll give it it there all and try to stay up. Teams fighting to avoid relegation are usually very dangerous.

 

Southampton Form: DWLLD

Liverpool Form: DLWWW

 

Southampton have been decent at home they recently beat Man City 3-1. Earlier the held Arsenal to a draw and defeated Newcastle as well. They've also had a couple of closely fought matches with Tottenham (1-2) and Man United (2-3).

 

So, I doubt it will be a walk in the park.

 

Last time we defeated them at their home was in Jan 2003. Here's how the last five games turned out:

 

 

01.12.2012 Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

22.01.2005 Southampton 2-0 Liverpool

28.12.2004 Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

14.03.2004 Southampton 2-0 Liverpool

13.12.2003 Liverpool 1-2 Southampton

 

I'm expecting Reina to return for this one. Borini is still out. No major injuries for Southampton either so they'll be able to field their best 11 as well.

 

We'll need to watch out for Ricky Lambert who has scored 12 goals for Southampton and is their highest goal scorer this season and the second highest in assists (4). Also, another key player to watch out for would be Adam Lallana who has 5 assists to his name this season.

 

As far as the starting lineup goes I'm thinking we should stick with the same winning team.

 

Reina

Enrique

Carragher

Agger

Johnson

Lucas

Gerrard

Suarez

Downing

Coutinho

Sturridge

 

 

I'm expecting Sterling, Henderson and Allen to be on the bench for sure. However, I'd also love to see Suso get some game time later on in the game. He's doing well. Just scored a couple of goals in a recent U21 game.

[WellRedKev]

Very keen for this one and being overseas at the minute delighted with the normal 3pm kick off (11pm). Hope its not the typical banana skin thats being the case for the last few seasons. An away win after the Spurs victory would be a bigger sign of progress than actually beating spurs on Sunday. I think these signs of progress are being banded about too easily. If three wins on the bounce and finally beating a top side in the league is a sign of progress it just go to show how far we are behind where we wanna be.

 

For me a sign of progress should be ten game unbeaten, 8 wins 2 draws etc. Thats the form i'm hoping for next season.

 

Its going to be a battle at times but if we can dominate possesion then we could easily beat them a couple of goals to nil. I would start with the same team and maybe bring on suso for Coutinho after 70 minutes. I think it is going really well for Coutinho and his introduction to the team and league couldnt be going any better. Bodes really well for next season.

 

Obviously if Reina is fit he replaces Jones in a heartbeat. Jones did ok Sunday but i think a suitable replacement for him in summer wouldnt be a bad shout. Maybe a young goalie who could play Europa league (Possibly) and carling Cup games. I think the progress of our youngsters really depends on getting that fifth spot at least. get back into europa league and they can be blooded even more so.

 

Hoping stevie and lucas dominate the middle, they would have found it tough on Sunday but i dont think it will be any easier Saturday for spells. Southampton will look to play with high energy and hope to break through Lalana and Rameriez, who will be trying to feed the prolific Lambert. I have seen them play many times this season, they can brutal and brilliant, in the same match even.

 

Couple of their players are suspect, Hoovens is no great shakes and i expect Suarez to make life hell for him. Can see plenty of goals in this game.

[Mascot88]

We need to win these. It would be awful for all the hard work on Sunday to end up meaning nothing if we drop points here.

So respect please, no complacency and be prepared to fight for it.

----------------Reina---------------
Johnson Carra Agger Enrique
--------Gerrard----Lucas---------
--Downing--Suarez--Coutinho-
--------------Sturridge-------------

Would love to see Suso get a bit of game time if its going well in the latter stages.

[WellRedKev]

Allen is out for the game so maybe Henderson will be become 1st choice sub.

 

http://www.liverpool...00252-32969937/

 

Sterling and Suso have both impressed for U21's so might feature.

[Hope in your heart]

Hopefully they'll do this surgery as soon as possible, as Joe needs to have a full pre-season preparation ahead of next season. No need to postpone this, as Henderson is good enough to deputise for him, and Suso or Shelvey can join the first team again.

Still, credit to Allen for his good performance on Sunday, given that he had to play through the pain-barrier. Wish him a good recovery!


As for that game, it's obviously a bit early, but if possible, BR should go on with the same starting line-up. Never change a winning team as the saying goes...

As someone else said, winning at Southampton after this win against Tottenham will be even more a demonstration that we are heading somewhere at the good last. We have four wins on the trot now in all competitions (which we haven't done since Kenny's first six months), so it would be great to make it five, and a clear sign of further progress.

[liverpool_singh]

Will be a tough game. Always is when everyone is feeling overconfident after a few wins in a row.

 

I'd pretty much go with the same starting XI as against Spurs and hope that Lucas and Gerrard can have better control of the midfield this time around (with Suarez playing in a more advanced position behind Sturridge).

[RedSouthIndian]

It is a great feeling when we win three in a row in PL (Four if you take all comps). Looking forward to the So'ton game as much as everybody else. So'ton are scrambling for their survival which does not make things easy for us. The last two vists there have ended in losses as pointed out by Uberkoen, but that was a few years back.

 

Playing against lesser teams make it all the more difficult to predict. They are obviously gonna park the bus in front of the goal and let us do all the running. Intrestingly, they have a tight defence at home, conceding only 17 goals, which is really good for a team struggling for survival. They have lost only 5 times at home and have drawn with Chelsea, Gooners & Bitters whilst beating Citeh. Certainly not an easy fixture, if ever there was one.

 

They have a decent attack in Lambert, Rodriguez, Ramirez & Co, but then we too have ours. If we score goals like we have done over the last 3 months and don't concede soft ones, I am sure we will come through with all three points from St. Mary's!!

 

Will stick with the same team (against Spurs) save Reina coming in for Jones. 1-3 win with Suarez, Sturridge & Coutinho getting on the score sheet.

[indianscouser]

Crucial game. The reason being we usually goof up after an important win. IMO, we should win this 3-0, considering our goal scoring form. Will go for the same team we played vs Tottenham. If we have any chance of getting into the 4 th spot, it might well come down to goal difference.

[ChicagoRed]

Damn, with Allen out I hope we don't start to get overrun again in midfield if Coutinho comes out and Brendan has to play Hendo. Allen was great the last 3 games. Looks like Gerrard won't be getting up the pitch as much now. Against Southampton we can get by, but will probably cost us down the road.

[The Elusive 19th]

Damn, with Allen out I hope we don't start to get overrun again in midfield if Coutinho comes out and Brendan has to play Hendo. Allen was great the last 3 games. Looks like Gerrard won't be getting up the pitch as much now. Against Southampton we can get by, but will probably cost us down the road.

 

 

Before Allen played well there was a patch when Hendo played well and Allen was playing pretty poor - that is if you want to remember that.

 

I think Hendo can manage some tired midfielder for 20 odd minutes once in a week.

 

Don't think he is too bad even for this.

[SoueysTash]

Damn, with Allen out I hope we don't start to get overrun again in midfield if Coutinho comes out and Brendan has to play Hendo. Allen was great the last 3 games. Looks like Gerrard won't be getting up the pitch as much now. Against Southampton we can get by, but will probably cost us down the road.

Hendo can do the job Joe Allen did on Sunday and probably with greater vigour

[cardiffpete]

Vital game to win ...and to extend our winning streak to all of 5 matches. Would expect the same Starting XI as versus Spurs.

 

It won't be easy, but would be nice to go into the International week with some chances of an improvement on 6th. Arsenal play Swansea away, Chelsea have West Ham at home and Spurs have Fulham at home. No easy rides for the opposition either.

 

If they all win and we win then the window of opportunity closes a little. If we win and anyone (or more) of the above drops points there is a small chance left and maybe it's game-on. If we do win, then it's onto Villa away (and we do probably owe them a beating) ...and yet another chance to capitalize on any potential upsets elsewhere.

 

Very doable (on paper) to get 12 points from the next 4 games, which conclude with West Ham at home and Reading away. Spurs have Fulham, Swansea, Everton and Chelsea to face in the same time-span (plus Europa League).

 

I'd rather have our fixtures tbh -  though none are a gimme. I'd also far rather have a 9-point cushion, but it is as-it-is and there is still a window of opportunity available (if we win a few games on the bounce) to mount a semi-serious challenge for Europe next season. No room for error now though.

[Anthony]

I see us winning of course, but I do every game. No team in the PL is a walk over, and on their day Southampton can beat anyone. Southampton are a dangerous team with some key figures that can, and will, give us trouble. Lambert, Ramirez and Lallana all have the ability to punish teams, so complacency is something we should not tollerate now If we can do what we have done so well recently, score goals and hold them up well enough we'll be in a great position. I think we can contain them defensively if Lucas and Stevie have a good game in front of the back 4. We are certainly the favorites and if we simply stay focussed, shore up the defensive issues and do what we do in attack...............3 points lads! One more thing, I fucking hate these internation breaks.

[Zoky]

Time to win a few games in a row, hopefully we'll prepare well tactically because Southampton now offer something different than to when we met them earlier this season. Still, it's likely to be another relatively open game which should suit us well, I don't see Southampton sitting back too much.

 

No need to change, just put Suso on the bench instead of Allen and that's it.

 

 

Reina

 

Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique

 

Lucas Gerrard

 

Downing Suarez Coutinho

 

Sturridge

 

 

Subs: Jones, Skrtel, Wisdom, Henderson, Shelvey, Suso, Sterling.

[lfc.eddie]

Same lineup, no changes, although I think it is the right time to take Skrtel in to the team.... We have to win this one, but historically we are never a team that did well against these bunch. We just don't like it there.... so let's hope things have changed.

[showmethemoney]

The good, the bad or the ugly, I don't care - three points please.........

 

Time to pull away from those bitters & focus our energies on Arsenal.

 

*I wonder how people have viewed Gaston at Southampton so far. I can't see him staying there if they are relegated.

 

Would he potentially have anything to offer us?

[WellRedKev]

The good, the bad or the ugly, I don't care - three points please.........

 

Time to pull away from those bitters & focus our energies on Arsenal.

 

*I wonder how people have viewed Gaston at Southampton so far. I can't see him staying there if they are relegated.

 

Would he potentially have anything to offer us?

 

he definitely would. He's usually integral to most fluid attacks for Southampton. Very tidy in possesion.

 

Other players that might attract interest if relegated?

 

Remy, Benteke, McCarthy, Shaw????

[FreakLFC]

I think this will be a piece of cake for us. 0-5 Liverpool. Suarez X 2, Gerrard, Johnson, Coutinho. 

[Gears]

Sturridge will be up for this.  Henderson should play this match along with gerrard.

[Verbal80]

No easy wins in the prem boys.

Reina (if fit)
Johnson Carra Agger Enrique
Gerrard Lucas Henderson
Downing Sturridge Suarez

I don't think we'd be being cautious if we play three in the middle. I think Gerrard and Henderson can add sufficient support in attack for this game. We don't need to batter them, we just need to win.

PS. Watched Barca last night. If that's a sign of things to come, then alllllllright.

[DeathOrGlory]

No easy wins in the prem boys.

Reina (if fit)
Johnson Carra Agger Enrique
Gerrard Lucas Henderson
Downing Sturridge Suarez

I don't think we'd be being cautious if we play three in the middle. I think Gerrard and Henderson can add sufficient support in attack for this game. We don't need to batter them, we just need to win.

PS. Watched Barca last night. If that's a sign of things to come, then alllllllright.

 

Well that escalated quickly.

[Zoky]

Remember the last time we were at St. Mary's, back in 2005 when we lost 2-0, Crouch got one and was a problem for our back line all afternoon. Arry was in charge of them and we needed to rotate, Pellegrino played, etc. Hopefully this time we'll prepare much better for what they can offer offensively. But any win will do, just to keep the run going.

[Soyasource]

Time to win a few games in a row, hopefully we'll prepare well tactically because Southampton now offer something different than to when we met them earlier this season. Still, it's likely to be another relatively open game which should suit us well, I don't see Southampton sitting back too much.

 

No need to change, just put Suso on the bench instead of Allen and that's it.

 

 

Reina

 

Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique

 

Lucas Gerrard

 

Downing Suarez Coutinho

 

Sturridge

 

 

Subs: Jones, Skrtel, Wisdom, Henderson, Shelvey, Suso, Sterling.

This.

[RedLaw]

Remember the last time we were at St. Mary's, back in 2005 when we lost 2-0, Crouch got one and was a problem for our back line all afternoon. Arry was in charge of them and we needed to rotate, Pellegrino played, etc. Hopefully this time we'll prepare much better for what they can offer offensively. But any win will do, just to keep the run going.

 

Still have nightmares about that game.

 

Anyway, as for this one, I actually reckon we've got a great chance of getting a convincing win here. Pochettino has got the saints playing a very continental style, i.e. high up the pitch, high tempo passing, etc. Dare I say, a slightly similar style to Rodgers', which should suit us right down to the ground. Significantly, what Southampton don't have that we do, is as higher calibre of player. Out of their strongest side only Ramirez would have a realistic chance of getting in our team. Added to that their recent form hasn't exactly been brilliant and assuming we don't let complacency slip us up (which granted I've shown a lot of here!) we should win this one quite comfortably.

 

As for the team we should go for it pretty much picks itself.

[RaoulDuke]

I think this will be a piece of cake for us. 0-5 Liverpool. Suarez X 2, Gerrard, Johnson, Coutinho. 

Agreed on the score.
But sturridge has to score at least one goal.
One or two more games us scoring some goals without him contributing and he might snap or get depressed.