Southampton At Liverpool The Preview Wednesday, 28th Feb 2024 07:45 Has Russell Martin already give this game up for dead and will concentrate on the League when he considers his selections for this game, or will he go for it, we will have the answers an hour before kick off on Wednesday evening. You would normally think that Jurgen Klopp would be playing his youngsters in this game, but after using an awful lot of them in Liverpool's Carabao Cup win at Wembley on Sunday, it could be that he will be calling in some of his big guns to start against Saints. For his part Russell Martin has decisions to make after Ryan Fraser joined Flynn Downes on the injury list, can he risk anymore of his first choice side playing in this game and picking up a knock that would reduce him down to the bare bones for the trip to Birmingham City on Saturday, a must win game if we are to harbour any hope of automatic promotion. One player who will definitely be missing though is David Brooks who is cup tied after playing for Bournemouth in the 3rd & 4th rounds of the competition. I think the manager will go for a hybrid of a side, I think Joe Lumley will again deputise for Gavin Bazunu in goal as he has done in previous rounds, the back line will feature Jack Stephens, but who he will partner is open for debate, at right back I think KWP will be rested and James Bree will come in to give him match sharpness and at left back Meghoma could also feature. Joe Rothwell will join Will Smallbone and Shea Charles in the midfield and up front Che Adams will have Sekou Mara and one of Sam Edozie, Sam Amo-Ameyaw or Tyler Dibling alongside him. That would appear to be the sensible selection for a manager who should surely be prioritising Saturday at St Andrews before Liverpool at Anfield. Martin has to try and balance not putting too many of his first choice players at risk alongside not seeing his side overrun and slaughtered. Saints will take their largest away following of the season up to Merseyside, why we have sold so many tickets I am not sure, personally I go with no real expectations, only the hope we will not disgrace ourselves. What sort of side Klopp will put out is anyone's guess, his priority will also be the League, Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, whilst on Sunday Manchester City host Manchester United, the Jurgen the German will see this as a weekend when City could well drop points, he will not want to see his own side give impetus to City by dropping points himself on Saturday. So I think he too will be prioritising Saturday and this could help us a little, I think the Liverpool side could well see fringe players and youngsters in the main with perhaps the odd one or two first choices. This will offer us some hope, if we can keep it tight and stay in shape then we could if not quite get a result, but certainly give a good account of ourselves. Some will say I am being negative here, but I'm sorry such is the nature of the Premier league now and the difference between Liverpool, Manchester City & Arsenal and even the other so called big 7, let alone the rest of the clubs is massive, change is needed in English football and that means the departure of the Big 7 for a European Super League, but without staying in the Premier League. In my time as a Southampton supporter we have only met Liverpool on equal terms, Ok to be pedantic we did meet them at Wembley in the Charity Shield as a second division club, but in truly competitive football I have only seen us play them when we have both been in the top flight, there have been some great games between the two clubs and we have held our own, but it was hard enough back then to compete and with us now in the Championship we have never been so far apart from them as a club since before the 2nd World War. I will go to Anfield with hope in my heart, but common sense in my head and hope that by the end of Wednesday nights storm that we haven't got well and truly drenched Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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