Southampton 0:2 Liverpool. In game & post match debate.

St Mary this afternoon









Starting XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Henderson, Allen, Markovic, Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling

Subs: Ward, Johnson, Toure, Lambert, Sturridge, Moreno, Balotelli

Mamadou Sakho misses today’s game due to a knock to his hip.

Raheem Sterling starts up front as Brendan Rodgers makes three changes for Liverpool's Barclays Premier League clash with Southampton this afternoon.

The 20-year-old is brought into the team to lead the attack for an important encounter at St Mary's, with Daniel Sturridge a substitute in the 4.15pm GMT kick-off.

Alterations elsewhere see Dejan Lovren replace Mamadou Sakho due to a knock to the hip for the Frenchman, and Lazar Markovic introduced for Alberto Moreno on the left flank.

With Steven Gerrard still sidelined, Jordan Henderson captains Liverpool for the 10th time, while Kolo Toure is back in the squad after winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

Gutted no Sakho, big miss

Weird line-up. It better works out or we'll have a meltdown after the match.

Markovic, Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

Could've given me 20 guesses and that would not have been my answer to who i thought would be starting. Let's see how it goes.

Bring your best, and we will win this comfortably boys!

No Midfielders on the bench. 3 Strikers and 3 defender plus Ward :/

Hmmm not liking going out there without a striker. Probably shouldn't have started Sturridge for the first leg of a Europa tie with such a big clash at the weekend.

I do think Coutinho is in dire need of a break as well.

And just so this doesn't get lost:

Mamadou Sakho misses today’s game due to a knock to his hip.

We should've rested Sturridge for the Europa League instead of this. Or Brendan really want to win the EL

We need my lucky today to be honest to win this one.

Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Djuričić, Elia, Pellè.
Subs: Davis (GK), Gardos, Schneiderlin, Gardos, Long, Mané, Tadić, Reed.

Saints lllineup dont look that strong either. Schneiderlain, tadic and Mane on the bench.  Looks like we can win this one

Weird line-up. It better works out or we'll have a meltdown after the match.

Obviously started Lovren and Lallana so they wont get booed if they come on as sub.

Anyway, Sakho is out so thats part of the reason Lovren is starting

Can't say I am happy with that team selection.

Without our best defender and our best striker sat on the bench in what is a massive game.

I don't like the makeup of the midfield either.

Cannot see us keeping a clean sheet so the front 3 have to come to the party today. I can see a situation with sturridge coming on after 60/70 minutes to try and salvage the game as opposed to taking him off with 15/20 to go with the game won.

With 4 strikers at the club how can we start a massive game without 1 of them on the pitch.

Despite all that if we perform we can get something out of the game.

COYMR !!!

Looks a bit odd.  Surprised to see Lallana given the nod against his old side after his recent form and recent comments about Southampton.

Big test for Lovren as well.  Think the team looks a little 'weak' if I'm being honest - hope my fears are unfounded and we get a huge 3 points.  Have to avoid defeat today.

Cannot see us keeping a clean sheet so the front 3 have to come to the party today. I can see a situation with sturridge coming on after 60/70 minutes to try and salvage the game as opposed to taking him off with 15/20 to go with the game won.

Gut instinct's telling me the same at the moment.

Odd selection for such a huge game. Hope it pays off. I'd be starting Studge or Balotelli for definite.

Lose today then there will be a lot of stick flying around because of this selection as it will set our top 4 hopes way back.

Ibe or Markovic at LWB is it?

Odd selection for such a huge game. Hope it pays off. I'd be starting Studge or Balotelli for definite.

Lose today then there will be a lot of stick flying around because of this selection as it will set our top 4 hopes way back.

Ibe or Markovic at LWB is it?

I think markovic will be lwb mate.

Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Djuričić, Elia, Pellè.
Subs: Davis (GK), Gardos, Schneiderlin, Gardos, Long, Mané, Tadić, Reed.

Does that mean Elia and Clyne vs Markovic?

Both teams have huge players on the bench so we can he hopeful about this. I hope they do not give me point in my prediction league because that means we won

Looks a bit odd.  Surprised to see Lallana given the nod against his old side after his recent form and recent comments about Southampton.

Didn't he say he wouldn't celebrate if he scored? Hate that, especially when a few thousand of his current side's supporters have travelled to bottom of the country to support the team.

Ok, a surprise or two but still think we will win, only four words to say.....



IN BRENDAN WE TRUST !




YNWA

Didn't he say he wouldn't celebrate if he scored? Hate that, especially when a few thousand of his current side's supporters have travelled to bottom of the country to support the team.

I don't care if he does not celebrate if that means we won.

I think markovic will be lwb mate.

Hmm, it's all a bit odd isn't it? And g'wed Leicester!! The F**k in hehehe

I'm happy enough to see Sterling play up top and given that we didn't buy another striker in the window he was always going to have to continue in the role given the number of games we have and the fragile fitness of Studge.

Sakho is a big loss though and is my biggest worry for this one

Strange line up.

No Stu or Moreno. Are they carrying knocks? Time for Lovren and Allen to step up.

Have a feeling Lallana will score today.

Will be a very tough game.

I predicted a 1:2 win to us but without Stu I think we may only draw 1:1.