Southampton will hope to continue their impressive Premier League campaign with a triumph over Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers’ rejuvenated Reds set to travel to St Mary’s Stadium for a mouth watering clash.
Ronald Koeman’s Saints have sensationally stunned the top-flight this season, incredibly climbing to fourth spot, and currently occupy a Champions League position, despite having sold a host of their former stars in last summer’s transfer market.
Three of those former Saints are Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana, who are now all plying their trade in the red half of Merseyside, and preparing to face their former club after a summer switch last year.
Liverpool have endured a resurgent spell since the turn of the New Year, climbing to within four points of their rivals in fourth place of the table. They are now available at 11/6 with Betsafe to secure a victory in their latest outing, following such an impressive domestic run. Odds on the Reds are continuing to drop with several sites, after Rodgers’ men have endured a majestic rise to prominence this calendar year.
However, Koeman’s men have somewhat underachieved since their stunning victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, and a recent goalless draw with 10-men West Ham United caused them to lose ground in the fight for a Champions League position next term.
A win is crucial to Southampton, with the Red Devils sitting only a single point ahead of Koeman’s men and Arsenal just a point adrift in fifth.
The visitors will be aiming to prove that their opening day triumph over the Saints was not a fluke, with former St Mary’s stars Lambert, Lovren and Lallana set to play a key part in the latest meeting.
Currently sitting seventh in the table, Rodgers’ rampant Reds are four points behind their latest opponents and three points would go a long way in the battle for a place among European’s elite clubs next season.
In-form forward Raheem Sterling was on target in the two club’s first meeting this term, which ended in a narrow 2-1 win in his side’s favour, and Liverpool are 26/3 to secure another victory by the same margin this time out.
Southampton will also have to be on red alert for the returning Daniel Sturridge, who has rediscovered his goalscoring form since a comeback from a troublesome injury, which has kept him on the sidelines for the majority of this current campaign.
The home side have had no competitive action since February 11 after their surprise defeat to Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace in an FA Cup clash, meaning they will be fully refreshed as they prepare to try and move further ahead in their bid to claim a Champions League place ahead of rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.
