Liverpool v Southampton: Matchday blog
Liverpool recorded a fourth win on the spin with a 3-0 success over Southampton at Anfield thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah (2) and Philippe Coutinho.
Jürgen Klopp's verdict
The manager was full of praise for a 'mature' performance from his side. He also termed the 3-0 win 'just an all-round good display' from the Reds.
Click here to read his post-match press conference comments.
Stats all, folks
Take a look at the numbers behind that win with our Opta widget.
Full Time
Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
A comfortable afternoon for the Reds at Anfield as they resume with a win following the international break.
Mo Salah's first-half double broke the visitors' resistance before Phil Coutinho's goal just past the hour mark put the seal on the three points.
The perfect start to a run of 13 games in 45 days.
So close to a fourth!
Oxlade-Chamberlain nicks the ball high up the pitch and attempts to square for Firmino but the cross is cut out at the last moment.
Firmino works space at the edge of the Saints box but his left-footed dribbles agonisingly wide.
That's unlucky.
Substitution
Manolo Gabbiadini enters the fray, taking the place of Shane Long.
Moments later, Mohamed Salah makes way for James Milner. The No.11's face when he sees his number go up is a picture - a rueful smile as he realises he won't be getting the hat-trick!
Match shot
Get in, Phil.
Substitution
Another change for the hosts, with Sadio Mane making way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Substitution
And that'll be Coutinho's final contribution.
The Brazilian makes way for Emre Can and receives an excellent reception from the home fans.
Goal
Liverpool 3-0 Southampton (Coutinho)
Mane flicks a brilliant reverse pass into the path of Firmino in the box and, though the No.9's shot is saved by Forster, his fellow Brazilian is on hand to slam the ball home.
The Reds have deserved this - they've dominated today.
Match shot
The boss urges his team on.
Yellow Card
Romeu in the book for a trip on the advancing Firmino - that looked a little harsh, in truth.
The Reds break at pace through Salah but Moreno can't sort his feet out in time to get a decent shot off after being played in by his Egyptian teammate.
A short break in play now as Southampton defender Hoedt receives treatment.
Substitution
A change for Southampton as Dusan Tadic makes way for Charlie Austin.
That suggests to me that the visitors are about to go more direct.
A deflected pass plays Firmino in one-on-one but he can't produce enough lift on the finish and Forster stops it.
Liverpool want another...
Liverpool are caught short at the back as they push to break forward and lose the ball.
Thankfully, Lovren does brilliantly to stand up Boufal and produce a block that gets his team off the hook.
Liverpool get the game restarted and are attacking the Kop end this half.
Here we go again
The players head back out to warm appaluse and we are moments from the restart at Anfield.
Incredible
Mohamed Salah is currently leading the Premier League's goalscoring charts with nine.
He's supposed to be a winger!
Shouting the odds
Here's what BETVICTOR think ahead of the second 45 minutes.
Liverpool 1/50
Draw 14/1
Southampton 75/1
Match shot
Mohamed Salah celebrates his opening goal.
Half Time
Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Two goals from Mohamed Salah and a two-goal lead for the Reds at the break at Anfield.
The visitors have looked to frustrate and disrupt but so far Jürgen Klopp's side have provided the answers to that approach.
Yellow Card
Lovren goes in the book for a late challenge around 35 yards out from the Liverpool goal.
Ryan Bertrand takes the free-kick and produces a big curler that whistles just wide of the post - that was some effort from the full-back.
Goal
Liverpool 2-0 Southampton (Salah)
He's done it again!
Coutinho picks an outside-of-the-boot pass in behind the Saints defence and onto the end of Salah's perfectly timed run.
As ever, the Egyptian produces a clinical finish across the goalkeeper.
Mane and Salah exchange swift passes at the edge of the box before the former is given what looks like a big shove.
The referee isn't interested, though, and Southampton get the ball away.
Goal
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton (Salah)
Tadic surrenders the ball to Klavan at the edge of the box after a corner and the Estonian quickly shifts it to Salah on the right-hand side.
The No.11 has space to work with and uses it to curl a beauty of a left-footed effort into the far corner. Get in!
The Reds really turning the screw now.
Long-distance efforts from Wijnaldum and Coutinho force Forster into saves as the Southampton backline retreats - that's the closest they've come so far.
Liverpool work the ball around the Southampton box but neither Coutinho or Mane can unpick the lock.
Inevitably, the visitors are content to sit deep and make the Reds work for it.
Match shot
Coutinho glides through the midfield on his return to Reds action.
So close for Liverpool!
Alexander-Arnold bundles through the Saints defence but can't poke it home before Salah's follow-up is deflected wide for a corner.
Some hefty challenges going in during the opening exchanges as both teams attempt to assert themselves.
Not much football being played yet!
Kick-Off
Southampton get us under way at Anfield.
Watching brief
A reminder of today's line-ups...
The lads are here
Dressing room ready
Klopp on Reds' line-up
Jürgen Klopp has been speaking about the four changes he's made for today's game.
Click here to find out the reasons why.
Team news
Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Karius, Milner, Gomez, Sturridge, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Solanke.
Joel Matip is ruled out with an injury sustained this week.
Captain's log
"There’ll be plenty of our lads coming back from the break with a spring in their step, because for the players there were some really good moments during the last fortnight."
Jordan Henderson expects his teammates who enjoyed a positive international break with their countries to take that good feeling into representing the Reds today.
Odds and sods
Here's how BETVICTOR think things stand...
Liverpool 4/9
Draw 19/5
Southampton 15/2
Happy birthday, Ovie!
It's Ovie Ejaria's birthday today - he turns 20.
And ahead of the U23s' mini-derby with Everton tonight, boss Neil Critchley has been speaking about the midfielder's 'wow moments'...
"He has these real 'wow' moments which just make you smile because it’s brilliant to watch. We are on at Ovie all of the time to try and produce more of that and get closer to their goal, get more goals and assists.
"That will make more people stand up and take a bit more notice of him because sometimes you can under the radar a little bit even with the ability that he’s got, but Ovie is a top player."
Get your matchday programme...
Today's edition features a brilliant front cover - part of the LFC Dream Scene artwork that was unveiled at Anfield earlier this week.
You can pick up your copy at the stadium today, or click here to subscribe online.
Spin that record...
There's a brilliant analogy from Jürgen Klopp in his programme notes today.
“We come into the game today in very good form, but after an international break it always feels the needle returns to the start of the record.
“That is our attitude in preparing for today. The previous results were very nice but irrelevant come kick-off today. We start again and we need to be ready."
Click here to read more from the manager.
Statistically speaking...
Matchday wouldn't be matchday without Ged Rea's pre-match stat pack. Here's a flavour...
- The two teams have met 84 times in total, with Liverpool winning 39, drawing 21 and losing 24.
- Liverpool’s biggest Premier League victory came in January 1999 when they beat Southampton 7-1 at Anfield.
- The Reds have failed to score in only seven of the 53 meetings with the Saints at Anfield in all competitions.
Want the full pre-match lowdown? Of course you do. Click here to satisfy your cravings for stats.
Better than Strictly...
We've got a Saturday night treat for you this evening - we're showing Liverpool U23s' derby clash with Everton live from Prenton Park from 6.30pm GMT.
Want more details? Click here.
Limbering up...
Go inside Melwood with our cameras to see exclusive footage of Liverpool preparing for the showdown with the Saints in our clip below.
You'll need an LFCTV GO subscription - sign up by clicking here.
Goals, goals, goals...
...10 of them, to be precise.
10 Liverpool goals against Southampton in the Premier League at Anfield for you to enjoy in our free clip below.
Weather
WEATHER UPDATE
Never fear, meteorology fans, we're always here to provide a vital pre-match update on the expected weather conditions ahead of Liverpool FC fixtures - and today is no different.
Well winter is well and truly on her way and you can expect a temperature of around nine degrees inside Anfield this afternoon; however, the good news is there'll be no rain, although plenty of cloud.
Is it time to dig out those thermals again? I'm saying 'no, not yet'.
Big coat? Yes, absolutely.
De, de, der, de, der, de...
Ever wondered where Gini Wijnaldum buys his socks from?
What do you mean 'no'?
Well, anyway, our No.5 was the star of the first episode of the 'At Home With...' series as he allowed our cameras and guest host Vuj into his home for an entertaining chat and a glimpse into his life away from the pitch.
It's well worth a watch in our YouTube clip below.
Oh, and for those that have wondered, spoiler alert: it's Primark.
The view from the gaffer...
Jürgen Klopp held his pre-match press conference at Melwood on Friday afternoon as he looked ahead of today's clash.
You can watch a very jovial Reds boss chat to the media in full below.
Team news
So, how are the squads looking ahead of today's game? Who's potentially in and who's potentially out?
Liverpool are hoping the man pictured below will be fit to play - click here for a full round-up.
Good morning...
...and welcome to our live matchday blog for Liverpool's Premier League fixture with Southampton at Anfield today.
The Reds will be out to build on the three successive victories they achieved prior to the international break against a Saints side who managed to shut them out on four occasions last season.
It's good to be back, isn't it?