Liverpool returns to Premier League action this weekend and Manchester City could have cut the gap at the top to only two points by the time the Reds kick off at Southampton.
Arne Slot’s side has a big week ahead with Real Madrid and then Pep Guardiola’s men to come shortly but first, the trip to the south coast but be taken care of. Liverpool has won 15 out of the 17 matches that Slot has overseen to date but that number needs to be further extended ahead of a crucial period in the campaign.
By the time the Reds play, Manchester City will have played Spurs while Arsenal will have played in-form Nottingham Forest. The Gunners went into the weekend nine points behind top spot.
For the Liverpool game, Southampton will be missing several players including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who is out with a long-term injury. Another shot-stopper, Aaron Ramsdale, is set to miss the next few weeks after having an operation on his hand.
Defender Jan Bednarek has a knee injury picked up during the international break and while it isn’t as bad as first feared, it will keep him out of the next couple of fixtures. He will be a big loss having been a regular this season.
Elsewhere, Ross Stewart has a calf problem at the moment and Will Smallbone has a thigh injury while Flynn Downes will have a late fitness test. That makes it five players definitely missing, with the potential for another one to be out too.
For the Reds, Harvey Elliott is back available for selection again in a major Slot boost. Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are all expected to be missing but they should all be back relatively soon, in the next few weeks.
Liverpool.com says: While Slot and his players won’t take anything for granted, this is a game that the Reds simply have to win. Anything other than three points against the Premier League’s bottom side would be a big blow in a season where the title is there to be won.
