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Liverpool heads to St Mary’s tonight with Manchester United tied for points at the top of the Premier League table over the weekend, and while they are still ahead on goal difference, they can rarely afford to lose points for the third game in a row here. .
They face a Southampton team that was in excellent shape until the last two weeks, during which time they have found themselves in a rut, drawing three and losing one of their last four games over the holiday period. Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have failed to score in their last three games, but they have also kept a clean sheet in the last two and have not conceded more than one goal in their last six league games.
Although Liverpool’s recent record there under Jürgen Klopp is impeccable, winning on each of the last three visits, it is rarely a straightforward encounter and they are a team fully capable of causing major problems if Liverpool are not in the races from the first. whistle. . A major upgrade from mediocre performances against West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United is needed if Liverpool are to successfully navigate their way to the precious three points.
This is what our writers are especially looking for tonight …
Joel rabinowitz
It has to be time to unleash Thiago, right? Even though we only got to see him for 20 minutes against Newcastle United, it was very exciting to see him back on the field after more than two months continually wondering when that moment would come, and all the worry that his knee injury was too much. more serious than we think.
Granted, his presentation from the bench at St James’ Park didn’t elicit a winning goal, but considering the time he’s been out, he still looked magnificent and injected much-needed urgency into the procedures that had been missed thus far. that point.
You always feel like anything is possible when he gets on the ball with his incredible vision, technique and agility, and the complete package he brings to the table is completely unlike what any other Liverpool midfielder can offer. I was especially pleased to see how willing he was to take on Newcastle and commit to many solid challenges, showing no sign of apprehension about his knee and showing that he has steel and cunning in abundance.
I know Liverpool have been extremely careful with his recovery not to rush him, and his physical condition will need to be carefully monitored for the rest of the season, but I’d really like to see him early on for this one. He’s been in full training for a few weeks and the only way to improve match sharpness is to play matches.
Given the amount of football Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones have played lately, resting at least one of them seems sensible and you would think Thiago will be completely fresh and eager to play. In the last two games, Liverpool have been frustratingly predictable and for the most part a pedestrian with the ball, and Thiago is the perfect antidote to that.
Against a Southampton side looking to put pressure on Liverpool high up on the pitch, he should be particularly well suited given his ability to receive the ball under pressure in virtually any situation, get away from his marker and break the lines with his supreme pass.
Mark Wakefield
He would have to agree with Joel that tonight must be the night we see Thiago start a game with Liverpool for the first time since the Merseyside derby in October. It could be seen in that 20 minute cameo against Newcastle that he automatically adds class and composure in the middle of the park, and his passing range is better than just about everyone on the team.
If you are fit, you will start all Premier League and Champions League matches from now on, that simple.
But I’m really intrigued to see how Klopp deals with a lack of intensity in the last two games. Against West Brom and Newcastle you could visually see that the team ran out of ideas early on and lacked that spark to score goals. That cannot be allowed to happen against Southampton. They are a strong team on their own turf and they will not make it easy for Liverpool to play their own game against them.
Having said that, both Newcastle and West Brom spent the majority of the game against Liverpool sitting and playing at the counter. Southampton rarely do that at home, so it could help Klopp’s plans.
I’m also interested in seeing how much Klopp rotates the team, particularly the front line, if at all. After the trip to St Mary’s, there are 13 days until their next league game and a chance to give the players a break.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had a very uneventful night against Newcastle and showed signs of fatigue. Will Klopp roll the dice and get the two going again, or will he use his squad and give Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, or Divock Origi a chance right from the start?
All eyes will be on the team news to be announced at 7pm tonight, that’s for sure.
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