Liverpool made light of their exhaustive midweek jaunt to Turkey to post a club-record 11th straight Premier League win with a 2-1 success at Southampton.
Goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino kept up their impressive domestic record as they have won every game going back to the Merseyside derby on March 3 and are unbeaten in 19 overall.
This win must be as pleasing as any for Jurgen Klopp given his side did not land back in this country until 4am on Thursday morning following their penalty shootout Super Cup win over Chelsea in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
Team News
Hello and welcome to the Independent's coverage of Southampton vs Liverpool at St Mary's!
This will be a real test for Jurgen Klopp and his players, who got off to the perfect start with an emphatic home win over Norwich last weekend. Since then, though, Liverpool have lost Alisson to injury and played 120 minutes in Istanbul, getting the better off Chelsea on penalties in the Super Cup.
Southampton will hope that today's visitors are still fatigued from Wednesday night's game. The Saints fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Burnley in their opening fixture, so a significant improvement will be needed if they're to get a result today.
Changes
Liverpool will be relieved that Adrian has recovered from his absurd ankle injury sustained immediately after the penalty shootout in Istanbul. There are three changes for the visitors, though: Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold all return to the starting XI.
For Southampton, Maya Yoshida and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg come in for Jack Stephens and former Liverpool man Danny Ings.
Here's what Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool's official website about Adrian's injury prior to kick off:
“We tested it this morning. Yesterday it was already better but still swollen. Now it’s good, so obviously not that serious.“In the first moment it looked horrible when we came out of the plane [on Thursday]. It was really difficult but now he is there and should be fine.”
Liverpool have not always found trips to Southampton easy. And the exertion of a long trip and extra time in midweek might make today's game even more difficult for Klopp and his players.
The players are out at St Mary's! Almost time for kick off...
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
2 minutes
Liverpool start brightly through Oxlade-Chamberlain, who drives forward from midfield and slides the ball into the path of Alexander-Arnold. His cross is cleared by Southampton.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
4 minutes
Milner is next to threaten, linking up with Mane and surging to the edge of the box. His shot deflects and almost deceives Gunn, but the goalkeeper collects fairly comfortably in the end.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
7 minutes
The visitors are dominant in the early stages, controlling possession and attacking with penetration. Alexander-Arnold is sent clear down the right and sees a cross blocked behind for a corner. The set piece comes to nothing.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
8 minutes
An alarming moment of indecision from Adrian, who takes an age to clear the ball and allows Ward-Prowse to close down. Thankfully for the Liverpool goalkeeper, the ball deflects wide.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
9 minutes
Southampton have woken up. Redmond plays a superb ball over the top for Adams, who almost rounds Adrian. But Van Dijk does just enough to deny the forward a clear path to goal.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
13 minutes
Lovely work from Salah, who makes a run down the right flank and backheels the ball into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain. The midfielder shoots from just inside the box but drags his effort wide of the far post.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
16 minutes
There's a pause in play after a clash of heads between Milner and Ward-Prowse. The former has come off worse, and needs stitches to stop the bleeding.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
18 minutes
Romeu does brilliantly to dispossess Salah and pick out Redmond, who sets off towards Liverpool's box. Oxlade-Chamberlain tracks back and stops the cross, and the corner that follows is drilled agonisingly across the face of goal and wide by Vestergaard.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
20 minutes
More nervousness at the back for Liverpool. Matip attempts to guide a long ball back to his goalkeeper but gets way too much on the header. It flies just wide.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
21 minutes
What a save! Adrian makes a fine stop from close range to deny Yoshida, who meets a Ward-Prowse corner from just a few yards out and powers a header towards goal. Somehow, it doesn't find the net. Southampton are on top at the moment.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
22 minutes
The hosts are rampant and the fans are responding. Adrian gives the ball away with another questionable clearance, which allows Southampton to force another corner. This time, it's cleared by Liverpool, who now have Milner, stitched up and bandaged, back on the pitch.
Southampton 0-0 Liverpool
27 minutes
Liverpool haven't been able to keep up the intensity after a promising start. The last ten minutes has been all Southampton, but the home side will want to take the lead while they're on top.
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