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The Reds are returning from the international break as league leaders after a mightily impressive start to Arne Slot’s reign as head coach. The Dutchman has won all but two of his matches in charge of the Merseyside club and has notably improved an array of players at the club without significant investment in the squad.
Liverpool will have one eye on two gargantuan fixtures on the horizon. European champions Real Madrid visit Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before Manchester City make the trip to Merseyside in the Premier League the following Sunday.
Southampton, who often saw their best and brightest poached by Liverpool in the past, have made an underwhelming start to their Premier League return. They have accumulated four points from a possible 33 and they suffered a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.
A dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup quarter-final in mid-December, here’s 90min’s guide to an intriguing clash.
Southampton will have to face the division’s most in-form side without their first-choice goalkeeper, with Aaron Ramsdale absent with a finger injury. Centre-back Jan Bednarek is also missing to further weaken Russell Martin’s defence.
Gavin Bazunu is also sidelined meaning Alex McCarthy, who was briefly linked with Liverpool as an emergency goalkeeper over the summer, will feature in between the sticks.
Will Smallbone and Ross Stewart are missing but it’s expected that Ryan Fraser and Flynn Downes will be available.
Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana could feature in the engine room, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis will be riding high after scoring on his England debut over the international break.
Southampton predicted lineup vs Liverpool (5-4-1): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, …
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