Mark Lawrenson has suggested that Liverpool will beat Southampton 2-1 this afternoon.
Mark Lawrenson
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Liverpool will beat Southampton 2-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium this afternoon – despite the expected absence of Adam Lallana.
The Reds make the long trip down to the South Coast in scintillating form, as the 6-1 win over Watford before the international break left Liverpool top of the Premier League table after 11 games.
It’s now just two points dropped in the last eight games for Jurgen Klopp’s men, and they head to Southampton looking to make it four wins in a row.
Whilst Liverpool can call on their superb attack – the best in the league with 30 goals in just 11 games – Southampton are able to call on a defence that has impressed under Claude Puel, with only four teams conceding fewer goals this term.
The Saints have lost their last two games though, as after a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea, they squandered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 away at Hull City before the international break.
Southampton’s Oriol Romeu, Dusan Tadic and Cuco Martina celebrate
Puel will be looking to get back to winning ways ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Sparta Prague, but one pundit thinks that Liverpool will notch yet another win as they pursue the Premier League title.
Ahead of this afternoon’s game, former Liverpool ace and current pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks the Reds will run out 2-1 winners, even without ex-Saints playmaker Adam Lallana.
According to the Liverpool Echo, hasn’t travelled to face his former club having suffered an injury playing for England, and whilst Lawrenson believes that’s a blow, he suggested it may not be a bad thing, as he felt his game suffered against his former clubs due to trying too hard to impress.
Liverpool’s Adam Lallana celebrates scoring
“It looks like Adam Lallana will miss this game after he was injured playing for England against Spain,” said Lawrenson. “That would be a blow because Lallana has been up there as one of Liverpool’s best three players this season, but they can just bring in Gini Wijnaldum – or even Daniel Sturridge, who has scored on his last two appearances against Saints.”
“And I don’t think it would be a bad thing to reduce the number of former Southampton players facing their old club – Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne should all still start, even if Lallana doesn’t. I remember playing against Brighton after I had joined Liverpool and I was in danger of trying too hard because I wanted to prove why I had left. My game suffered because of it.”
“Southampton’s form has dipped a bit in the past few weeks and they have only taken one point from three games. That is typical – it came just after I had said that their two centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte, and the goalkeeper Fraser Forster are as good as anyone in the league,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Southampton v Liverpool?
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