Liverpool travel to Southampton on Sunday, 20 March as the Reds look to get their floundering Premier League season back on track. The Reds come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the second leg of the round of 16 tie of the Europa League which led them into the quarter-finals.
Overview
Southampton are currently level on points with Liverpool, having played two games more than the Reds but a win here will take them closer to finishing in the top six and confirming a spot in Europe for the upcoming season. The Saints have tided over their initial bad form and are back in the reckoning for a top- half finish.
However, they have collected only four points from their last four games, with losses against Chelsea and Bournemouth. But manager Ronald Koeman will be hoping that a win over in form Stoke City side last weekend will go a long way in alleviating their lack of confidence. Graziano Pelle scored a brace against Stoke to get back to goal scoring ways.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have two games in hand and are currently seven points behind Manchester City, who play United at the Etihad later on Sunday. A win here will be a major boost to Jurgen Klopp's hopes of finishing in the top four, with Champions League qualification through the Europa League route a major doubt after they were drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.
Their win against United has restored belief in the Liverpool ranks and Klopp will be hoping that a fit Daniel Sturridge will come good. The Reds will be buoyed by their 6-1 win at the St Mary's in the League Cup and will be hoping to repeat their heroics in the league.
What Managers Say
Ronald Koeman: "We knew our situation before the Stoke City game. It was a must-win game and I think the same is for this weekend, because we know the position in the table. "we know the points and if we're still fighting for Europe I think we have to win. It's a tough one, a huge game to play and also an important one."
Jurgen Klopp: "[On top four finish and Europa triumph] The only thing I can say is 'hopefully'. It is difficult to imagine what could happen but the only thing we can do is do our best and get whatever we can get and that is what we have tried in the last few weeks. In the position we are in if you want to get up in the table you have to watch what other teams are doing, which makes no sense as we have no influence over it. We have to win our games as often as possible and see what happens."
Team News
Southampton
Probable XI: Forster; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Davis, Tadic, Romeu; Pelle, Long
Liverpool
Probable XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Flanagan; Can, Henderson; Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino;Sturridge
