Liverpool v Southampton
Sunday, August 17, 2014, Anfield
Kick-off: 6 pm Sri Lankan Time.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg. Matches: 27, R3 Y96.
Because of an unfortunate Steven Gerrard slip, Liverpool will not start this season as kings, but as an ambitious prince. Southampton were one of only two visiting teams to win at Anfield last season but will be unrecognisable for Ronald Koeman’s first Premier League game in charge. The goalscorer in that 1-0 win, Dejan Lovren, joined the summer exodus from St Mary’s to Liverpool and is the only former Saint likely to start against his old club with Adam Lallana suffering from a knee injury and Rickie Lambert, who has scored against all his ex-teams, set for the substitutes’ bench.
New signings Ryan Bertrand from Chelsea, former Celtic’s keeper Fraser Forster and ex-Inter Milan Saphir Taider are likely to play. Only new defensive acquisition Florin Gardos is a certain absentee, with midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin in contention despite ongoing rumours of a move to Tottenham. Shane Long, signed on Thursday from Hull, is available and will offer competition to fellow new recruit Graziano Pelle up front while academy graduate Lloyd Isgrove will be hopeful his pre-season showings could be enough to see him handed a first Premier League appearance.
For the first time in Premier League history, an English team meets its feeder club on the opening day of the season.
The Liverpool and Southampton masters teams of years to come will be picking from the same squad. It’s a new era for the Saints under Ronald Keoman, but in his favour his first scout report involved watching last season’s videos of his new club.
Liverpool are now Suárez-less, but Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling are emerging as world class.
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Southampton 0 Liverpool 3 (Suarez, Sterling, Gerrard), Premier League, March 2014.
Liverpool 0 Southampton 1 (Lovren), Premier League, September 2013.
Southampton 3 (Schneiderlin, Lambert, Rodriguez) Liverpool 1 (Coutinho) March 2013.
STATS…
Liverpool has an average of 1.54 goals against Southampton.
Last year, Southampton’s goal was scored by Dejan Lovren, with an assist from Adam Lallana, now two Liverpool players.
Southampton, which finished 8 had a best defence last year (46) than almost champions Liverpool (50).
