Premier League: Southampton v Liverpool match preview

A look ahead to this weekends fixture at St Mary's

Brendan Rodgers looks on from the touchline (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool head to the south coast hoping to keep their hopes of a first league title since 1990 alive. Currently four points behind leaders Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers' men have scored 70 goals so far this season – one less than they managed in 2012-13. However, their defensive mishaps are well documented: only Cardiff, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham have keep fewer than their seven clean sheets.

Despite their six-match unbeaten run coming to an end at the hands of West Ham, Southampton have reasons to be confident. They are unbeaten in three games at St Mary's against the Reds, and no other team has won at Anfield this season. Could Mauricio Pochettino's similar philosophy of quick passing and high defensive line be Liverpool's undoing again?

Jos Hooiveld (eye) and Victor Wanyama (knock) may miss out for Southampton. Liverpool duo Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) and Lucas Leiva (knee) have returned to training but will watch from the sidelines. Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates continue to recover from long-term knee injuries.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Liverpool 0 Southampton 1 (Lovren), Premier League, September 2013

Southampton 3 (Schneiderlin, Lambert, Rodriguez) Liverpool 1 (Coutinho), Premier League, March 2013

Liverpool 1 (Agger) Southampton 0, Premier League, December 2012

STATS:

66% of Liverpool's goals in this season's Premier League have come in the first half

Southampton have dropped 15 points from winning positions

Daniel Sturridge will be looking to score in his ninth consecutive league game

ODDS:

Southampton to win: 3.75

Liverpool to win: 2.05

Draw: 3.6

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 5:30pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10:30pm