January signing Takumi Minamino could be in line to make his first Premier League start when Liverpool take on Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool will be looking to register their 24th win in the ongoing Premier League campaign, when they lock horns with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton side on Saturday afternoon. And ahead of the game, manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed a double injury boost as Adam Lallana and Divock Origi, who picked up a knock in the last game, are fit and available.
Speaking to the press on the eve of the game, Klopp said, “Adam trained normally, Divock was cramp. He didn’t train yesterday because it was not a day for him to train. But I heard nothing else so he should be in training today.”
.@officialAL20 and @DivockOrigi are in line to be available for Saturday’s clash with @SouthamptonFC, but @JamesMilner and @XS_11official are not yet ready to return.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2020
However, Liverpool will continue to be without star attacker Sadio Mane against Southampton, while James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri also remain sidelined. In what will be Liverpool’s last league game before they leave for the winter break, Klopp is unlikely to make a whole lot of changes to the side that defeated West Ham United.
Alisson Becker is a certainty to feature in goal for Liverpool, while the back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson are expected to be retained as well, despite the availability of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.
Fabinho has been knocking on Klopp’s doors for a return to the starting XI since returning to full fitness and the Brazilian could get the nod against Southampton this weekend as the deepest of the three midfielders for the champions-elect.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will move into a slightly advanced role in the middle to accommodate the Brazilian, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dropping out. Georginio Wijnaldum should occupy the third slot in midfield.
Mohamed Salah, who scored in the win against West Ham, is a certain starter in the Liverpool attack, along with Brazilian international Roberto Firmino. Origi filled in for the injured Mane last time out and while the Belgian is expected to be fit for Saturday’s game, he could lose his place to January signing Takumi Minamino.
Minamino has made just one Premier League appearance since signing for Liverpool from Red Bull Salzburg, coming on as a substitute against Wolves last week. He ought to make his first start in the English top-flight on Saturday when Southampton come visiting.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Minamino
