Assuming everyone is fir for the visit of Norwich then Nigel Adkins has to go with the same side that beat Newcastle so well.

Its a no brainer for Saints boss Nigel Adkins if everyone is fit, keep a winning side and more of the same thats seen them pick up six points in the last two games, continuity is the name of the game for the visit of the Canaries who will be a different prospect that the pitiful displays put up by QR & Newcastle.

However even if Saints win the manager has some serious thinking to do for the trip to Liverpool on Saturday, as good as Saints have been in the last couple of games, the Premier League is all about being proactive rather than reactive and to be blunt, althouigh Saints are a little better organised and confident now, the same problem down the flanks when we are on the back foot is likely to rear its ugly head if we are not careful.

When you travel to places like Anfield, even if its not the same place it once was, you are going to spend a lot of time defending and when you have players coming at you with the pace of the likes of Raheem Sterling, you have to have players who will track him back, the line up Saints have put out is ideal when you are attacking but not when you have to defend against a side that is quick on the break.

So more of the same against Norwich and then on Saturday Nigel needs to show he has learnt his lessons from our babtism of fire.   

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 17:40 - Nov 27 disagree with this one - would have same side but not rickie lambert to start, dont forget he is 31 and started last 2 games in how many days. Would replace with Rodriguez for this, and bring Rickie on as a sub late on.
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ExiledSupporter added 17:54 - Nov 27 Yes, I agree that under normal circumstances I would play an unchanged side too. But I tend to agree with Schatfield that I would give RL a rest and give JR a run out, but I would do it against Norwich and bring Rickie back against Liverpool (on the basis that he would be more motivated to play against them for obvious reasons than vs Norwich) Additionally I would be looking for a point and would play Davis in order to flood the midfield and add protection to the full backs (at the expense of Puncheon who I think may prove to be a bit of a luxury away from home (just like Lallana can be sometimes) Thank goodness we have decided that JR is wasted on the wing, rotating him and RL in the same position makes so much more sense than the ridiculous idea that he could be a winger!

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slynch added 18:11 - Nov 27 What do you think the line up against Liverpool should be then, StNick? Looking at the table Liverpool are no better than Norwich or Swansea.
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redandwhitedee added 18:12 - Nov 27 Liverpool are a very average premier lge side. This is a good chance to pick up crucial away points. If possible I would stick with the same team that is doing so well. If they play in the same manner as against newcastle, they'll tear liverpool apart too. Show no fear. That was how the did so well against city + utd. The time they showed fear and respect was when they were thumped by the arse. So go for it in both games. Put your best side out from the start. These are athletes, 4 games in 14 days is not a huge deal... This is a battle, this is survival, this is premier leage - southampton style. They can sleep later.

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SaintNick added 18:26 - Nov 27 Looking at Liverpool as an average Premier league side is dangerous as their strengths are our weaknesses, they are fast and pacy on the right and go forward at speed, add to that Suarez who is just the type of forawrd we dont like to handle and there is the chance of danger, their only 2 home defeats were to man United and Arsenal and they have already whacked Wigan and Norwich this season. There problem has been too many draws, but they have still lost only three times all season, one of them on the opening day, too many draws is their downfall. We seem judgingby some of the comments to think that all of our problems from early season have miraculously been solved and everything is rosy, this is the premier league you cant play the same side week in week out, you have to adapt to suit who you are playing, whilst we have a lot more confidence at the moment, players who were exposed earlier in the season havent suddenly become top class premier players overnight, we have won two games in a row and we think we are world beaters. We need to counter the threat of Sterling and to do that I would play both Fox and Shaw on the left, if we play Lallana Sterling will murder us down our left and Johnson will look like a class full back

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LJCmx added 19:04 - Nov 27 I wouldn't change a thing from the side that played on Sunday. We can make good like-for-like substitutions when needed (i.e. JR for Rickie) but we needn't fix anything that isn't broken. As previous comments have said, these guys are athletes and can cope with playing games a few days apart. For Liverpool I would possible change it around a little. We are playing Norwich first though, so that is more important!

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mgprobert added 09:11 - Nov 28 We have a much better chance of getting 3 points v Norwich, rather than Liverpool so lets play the best team (ie SRL) tonight and then anything from the away game is a bonus - better than reducing our chances v Norwich and getting nothing from either game ... keep the momentum going
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thegeneral added 09:29 - Nov 28 The problem is we havn't got the depth in our squad to rotate and replace like for like subs/players. Our defensive problems have not suddenly received a miracle cure they are flattered by Jack Corks abilities in front of them. Fonte will be a liability against a player like Suarez he's likely to throw a leg in and we all know Suarez goes down quicker than a Gosport girl on a Saturday night. If we go for the draw and sit deep we will succumb to the pressure and make mistakes. The Newcastle game was no nonsense defending boot it into touch or up the field, fine, it worked against them and we were good enough going forward with possession to dominate the game but we can't give the ball away against a team that is focused on possession so heavily like liverpool, play the same team and try to out score them.

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