Liverpool travel to Southampton tomorrow afternoon looking to extend their current run of good form against a side who have upset the critics this season.
When Southampton sold Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool last summer, the narrative of their meeting at Anfield on the opening day of the season probably went to plan — Liverpool coming out 2-1 winners.
But since then the tale of the two clubs has spun off in two very different directions to what the experts had predicted. Going into tomorrow’s clash at St Mary’s, the Saints sit fourth, four points ahead of the Reds in seventh.
It is a glorious opportunity for Brendan Rodgers‘ side to close the gap on Ronald Koeman’s side, who have occupied one of the
Champions League positions for much of the season but have hit slightly more rocky form recently with an injury to star midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.
A defeat at Swansea, a win at home to lowly Queen’s Park Rangers and a goalless draw at West Ham were preceded by an FA Cup exit to Crystal Palace, who Liverpool beat at Selhurst Park last Saturday to book themselves a place in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool meanwhile have won their last three — against Tottenham, Palace and Besiktas, having won eight times since the turn of the year and with no Premier League defeat since mid-December.
Already on a good run of form, the return of Daniel Sturridge from injury has boosted Liverpool and also seemed to spark a revival in
Mario Balotelli‘s career on Merseyside, scoring another late winner for the Reds in their Europa League victory over Besiktas last Thursday night.
Balotelli’s recent contributions to Liverpool games may make him feel hard done by if he doesn’t start at Southampton, while Sturridge’s goalscoring credentials may be vital to the Reds taking their chances when they come. — Thisisanfield
