Southampton 1 Liverpool 0 LIVE REACTION: Champions stunned as Danny Ings comes back to haunt former club at St Mary’s
LIVERPOOL's winless run extended to three matches as Danny Ings netted the only goal of the game on Monday Night Football.
- Final score: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool
Follow ALL the latest reaction with our live blog below...
THE STAGE IS SET
How St Mary's looks ahead of kick-off in 40 minutes.
Still without supporters sadly!
BOUNCE BACK
Andy Robertson hopes to kick start the new year with a win after a couple of disappointing draws.
The Scotland skipper is wary that Southampton will be looking to do the same.
He said: “We try and win every game we play, of course we do.
“The last two draws have been disappointing for different reasons but this is the next game put in front of us.
“We will look to get the new year off to a good start but Southampton have drawn their last couple as well and they’ll be looking to do the same.
“We’re expecting a really tough game but if we are at our best we’ll hope to create enough problems to win the game.”
AND THE HOME SIDE
Southampton arrive and are preparing to go out and get warmed up.
They'll need to, it's a chilly one tonight!
THE REDS ARE HERE
The away side arrive ahead of tonight's kick-off.
CHANGES
Henderson and Fabinho have played together enough to understand each other's game.
But as a centre-back pairing? Let's see.
No McCarthy, Romeu or Adams for Saints tonight but Danny Ings is fit.
LIVERPOOL SUBS
Kelleher, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Shaqiri, Origi, R. Williams, N. Williams, Phillips
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
Jurgen Klopp’s line-up has been revealed for the trip to St Mary’s.
Jordan Henderson will play at centre-back tonight with Thiago and Oxlade-Chamberlain drafted in.
LIVERPOOL XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Henderson (C), Fabinho, Robertson, Thiago, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Firmino, Salah
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS
Lewis, Vokins, Valery, Ramsay, Chauke, Smallbone, Tella, Long, N’lundulu
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS
Boss Ralph Hasenhüttl makes three changes to his Saints team for tonight’s visit of Liverpool.
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Diallo, Ward-Prowse (c), Armstrong, Djenepo, Walcott, Ings
TEAM SHEETS ARE IN!!
BEST IN EUROPE
Southampton centre-back Jack Stephens is looking forward to testing how far Saints have come this season when taking on 'one of the best in Europe'.
He said: "Obviously as players you want to play against the best players and the best teams.
“For the last 12-18 months, Liverpool have been the best team in the country – if not Europe.
“We’re looking forward to the test.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to show how far we’ve come and the steps we’ve taken this season.
“We need the intensity and match them on that front and bring our quality to the game.”
"CAUTIOUS JANUARY"
Jurgen Klopp has played down the chances of signing a centre-back in the window.
He admits that due to the ongoing constraints that Covid has put on football has meant he might have to make do with what he has.
SELF-ISOLATION
Southampton announced last night that keeper Alex McCarthy would miss the game tonight having tested positive for Covid.
All the best in your recovery, Alex!
FIRST OF 2021
The first outing for both of these teams this year.
They both ended last year with a 0-0 draw but there WILL be goals tonight!
THE LEAGUE LEADERS IN ACTION
Good evening and a very warm welcome along to SunSport’s live coverage of tonight’s Premier League clash between Southampton and Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s men kick-off joint top of the table after Manchester United’s win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
They are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions since the Champions League defeat to Atalanta in November.
But it is only two wins in the last six for the Reds, drawing on their last two outings.
Liverpool have more injury concerns to worry about ahead of a clash they simply need to win to maintain a grip on the top of the league.
Joel Matip is out of action after suffering an abductor injury in the 1-1 draw with West Brom last weekend.
Naby Keita is still out of action with a muscle problem, which he also picked up in the draw with the Baggies.
Both Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas are not going to be ready for the game because of knee injuries.
Both Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are still sidelined with long-term knee injuries as well.
While Southampton continue their impressive start to this campaign.
Ralph Husenhuttl’s side have stuttered in recent weeks having gone four without a win, but three points tonight could get them bac into the top six.
They’ve failed to score in their last three games but have back-to-back 0-0’s in their last two outings.
Saints announced last night that number one Alex McCarthy had tested positive for Covid and would miss the game.
That could mean a rare outing for back-up man Fraser Forster who snubbed a summer move to Celtic to fight for a place in the Southampton first-team. He’s yet to play a minute of Premier League football, could this be his big chance.
We’ll have team news shortly before all the build-up ahead of the 8pm start from St Mary’s.
