MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 02:44:51| >> :120:14942:14942:
[monks data]
Attendance: 50,965
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 6
Sep 22, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Southampton logo

3-0

Hoedt (10' og.), Matip (21'), Salah (45')
FT(HT: 3-0)

How Southampton could line up against Liverpool

Sports Mole looks at how Southampton could line up for their daunting Premier League trip to face joint-league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.

Southampton will face arguably the most daunting current task in English football when they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints come up against a team with six wins from six across all competitions, but they will also be buoyed by their own recent upturn in form, having begun the season with only one point from their opening three league games.

Three matches without defeat since then - including one in the EFL Cup - leave Mark Hughes's side in much better shape, although their most recent outing will have felt more like a defeat as they let a two-goal lead slip against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday night.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Southampton might line up for their trip to Merseyside.



Possible SOT XI vs. LIV

Out: Danny Ings (ineligible)
Doubtful: None

Mark Hughes has favoured a 4-4-2 system so far this season, but the absence of top-scorer Danny Ings - who is ineligible to play against his parent club - could force him into a reshuffle.

The Saints are likely to deploy defensive tactics against a team of Liverpool's attacking might, which could see Oriol Romeu come in for Ings to shore up the midfield alongside Mario Lemina.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could move into a slightly more advanced role having already scored twice this season, although as usual his inclusion in the team is expected to be more down to his destructive midfield work than his goalscoring prowess.

Shane Long has been preferred to the likes of Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini as Ings's strike partner so far this season, and the persistent forward looks the most likely candidate to lead the line alone should Hughes opt for just one striker.

The pace - or lack thereof - of Jannik Vestergaard could be a particularly worrisome issue against a team like Liverpool, but Hughes is expected to stick with the giant Dane alongside Wesley Hoedt in defence.

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this fixture

ID:335877: cacheID:335877:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4150:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manolo Gabbiadini signs for Southampton on January 31, 2016
Read Next:
Agent: 'Gabbiadini staying with Saints'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!