Southampton vs Liverpool. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,596.
Sunday 20 March 2016 17:38, UK
Liverpool will be out to prove their self-belief is growing under Jurgen Klopp as they travel to a Southampton side sitting just above them on goal difference.
Their Europa League last-16 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United on Thursday was rewarded with a quarter-final tie against Klopp's former club Borussia Dortmund.
But attentions now turn to Sunday's visit to the south coast and a clash against seventh-placed Saints where the Reds have won on their last two Premier League visits.
Ronald Koeman has been boosted by the news that skipper Jose Fonte and midfielder Victor Wanyama will return to the side from suspension.
Team news
Defender Fonte served a one-match ban in the 2-1 win at Stoke last weekend while Wanyama has completed a five-game suspension for his third red card of the season.
Sadio Mane is available having avoided a ban after his red card at Stoke was overturned, but fellow forward Charlie Austin is still out with a hamstring injury.
Roberto Firmino looks set to miss the trip, after being withdrawn from the Brazil squad for upcoming matches.
Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno is also a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury. The defender, injured in training ahead of the Europa League tie at Manchester United, will have a scan at the weekend but it seems likely Jon Flanagan will come into the side.
Captain Jordan Henderson suffered a bout of sickness at half-time at Old Trafford but should recover in time, but fellow midfielder James Milner serves a one-match suspension.
Opta stats
Liverpool have won four of their last six Premier League matches, averaging three goals per game in that run.
Liverpool are looking to win four successive Premier League games for the first time since March last year (five in a row under Brendan Rodgers).
Liverpool won 6-1 on their last visit to St Mary's in the Capital One Cup earlier this season, while they have also won their last two Premier League visits there.
The Saints haven't lost three successive PL games at home to Liverpool since December 1996.
Southampton have lost just one of their last six Premier League games at St Mary's (W4 D1 L1).
Liverpool have scored 13 goals in their last four PL away games.
Merson's predictions
Southampton have had some superb results in recent weeks. Their form has completely turned around. Liverpool will have put a lot of effort into their Europa league clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday. It will certainly take a lot out of them so I'm predicting a 2-1 Southampton win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet's odds: 9/1)
Betting
Southampton are Sky Bet's marginal favourites ahead of the visit of Liverpool (9/5) with the draw paying 21/10. Liverpool have won on each of their last three visits to St Mary's, scoring 11 goals and can be backed at 8/1 to win by two clear goals. Saints legend Matt Le Tissier is tipping the hosts to win 2-1 at odds of 9/1, while former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has gone for a 1-1 draw.
