Liverpool will look to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League when they face Southampton on Sunday at St Mary’s.
The Reds have made a flying start to the 2024/25 campaign under new manager Arne Slot, and they have already taken a healthy five-point lead over Manchester City.
Liverpool have won 15 of their 17 games played so far in all competitions, and their only defeat has come against Nottingham Forest back in September.
Ahead of the match, Slot has confirmed that Virgil van Dijk is fully fit, but Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t trained with the side yet.
Harvey Elliott, Alisson, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are also close to returning to first-team action after long injury lay-offs.
Slot said that what affects his team selection process right after the international break is the fitness of the players coming back from South America.
Not only is there an issue of jet lag, but sometimes the players carry injuries while playing for their countries.
Here’s the predicted Liverpool XI v Southampton
Goalkeeper
Slot has confirmed that Alisson will not be risked against the Saints (he could miss against Real Madrid as well), which means Caoimhin Kelleher will continue in goal. He was outstanding for Republic of Ireland in their 1-0 win against Finland.
Defence
Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the first-choice defenders at the club, and Slot has no intention to change the dynamics. Conor Bradley will start at right-back in Alexander-Arnold’s absence. Andy Robertson could be benched for this game. With some big games coming up, Slot can afford to give him more rest by using Kostas Tsimikas at left-back.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch is undroppable at the moment. Curtis Jones is enjoying an amazing form, and Alexis MacAllister is pivotal to Slot’s system. This means Dominik Szoboszlai could be used from the bench once again.
Attack
In the absence of Jota, the Reds boss has little option but to use Darwin Nunez upfront. Luis Diaz could be given a break following his participation for Colombia.
The 27-year-old attacker has been in terrific form this season, and Slot can look to give him more rest. Cody Gakpo is a natural replacement.
Mohamed Salah is the first name on the team sheet, and he could beat Robbie Fowler’s goalscoring record against Southampton on Sunday.
Predicted Liverpool XI v Southampton: Kelleher; Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, MacAllister; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
