Hallo und willkommen to our live text commentary of Liverpool's visit of Southampton and, as you can tell, Jurgen Klopp is still on the agenda - and he will be until he picks up his first win. His coronation in last week's 0-0 draw at Spurs was as much of a snoozefest as a field full of narcoleptics if we're honest, while Thursday's 1-1 Europa League draw with Rubin Kazan saw Klopp experience Anfield for the first time as Liverpool manager, but still the wait goes on. Third time lucky? We'll know in just about three hour's time, my friends.
Like a hamster nibbling on a bockwurst, there's plenty to get through this afternoon folks, but let's get down and dirty with a bit of team news first. Actually, scrap that. First, take a mosey on down to Sports Mole HQ and watch what the boys had to say on this one.
Let's start with the hosts and we can confirm that Klopp makes a total of one change from that draw in midweek, with Lucas replacing Joe Allen. Divock Origi starts for the third straight game under Klopp, which is a huge show of faith from the German given that the young Belgian has been a bit pony in the first two. He'll also be looking for more from Philippe Coutinho, who also well below his best against Spurs and Rubin. In contrast, Mamadou Sakho was truly brilliant in both and he'll be key if Liverpool are to get a second successive Premier League clean sheet.
On to our friends from the South Coast now and Ronald Koeman makes two changes from the 2-2 draw with Leicester. First, Maarten Stekelenburg shrugs off an injury to return in place of Kelvin Davis, while his compatriot Jordy Clasie displaces James Ward-Prowse. Graziano Pelle, who has five league goals under his belt, spearheads the attack as per usual.
So, is today the day? The day when Klopp opens his account in England? It might be, but if it is then Liverpool will have to play well - much better than in the German's first two games - because Southampton are no mugs. Okay so they threw away a two-goal lead at home to Leicester last week and drew 2-2, but games like this, where they're not particularly expected to win, Koeman's side epitomise the term 'banana skin'.
Ask Arsene Wenger, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho if Koeman's men are a walk in the park. Southampton beat Arsenal twice last season. They beat United at Old Trafford, and they beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge just last month. Okay so every Tom, Dick and Slaven is getting one over on Mourinho at the moment, but the fact remains: Southampton are no picnic and Klopp needs a big performance.
Klopp's men drew 1-1 with Rubin Kazan in the Europa League at Anfield on Thursday, which is more unimpressive given the fact they had a man advantage for, hmm, 55 minutes. That came a few days after drawing 0-0 at Spurs and both results have reminded us that Klopp has a big job on his hands. There's a lot of issues to address, but with Christian Benteke returning to fitness, scoring goals is probably one item to mark off the checklist.
The Belgian striker is, quite frankly, a monster who feeds on goals and gets his kicks from tormenting feable defences. He's outstanding and, worryingly for the Premier League, he'll only improve. He's only been at Liverpool a few months following a £32.5m move from Aston Villa, but he's already scored some screamers.
PREDICTION! Before you read on, this is going to be bold. It's bolder than eating sweets before your dinner. It's bolder than the giant rock which chased Indiana Jones back in the day. It's bolder than THIS bit of text. I'm on a Southampton win. It's been hard to be convinced by Liverpool under Klopp in the first two games - not making any long-term judgements so calm down - and the Saints, as we mentioned, have the pedigree for toppling the big boys. 3-1 to Southampton!
CHANCE! Liverpool have started excellently. Southampton are chasing shadows and just now Cedric Soares pulls off a fine block for what would've been a certain Liverpool goal.
CLOSE! Not far away at all as Can flicks on Milner's corner and it whistles just wide of the near post. The German will be a big player under Klopp, excellent in his first two games.
Brilliant defensive work from Can now as the Germany international tracks back to dispossess Tadic, before distributing the ball brilliantly. He made us look quite good there, having just praised him.
SHOT! Lallana fancies a goal against his former club, but he'll have to do better than this effort as his tame left-footed strike rolls into the arms of Stekelenburg.
We've seen our first sight of Mane, who does well to win a corner, which comes to nothing. They'll have to keep a very close eye on the Senegalese winger this evening. He was outstanding in that 3-1 win at Chelsea last month.
Excellent block from Skrtel here as Pelle fires at goal from outside the box, before it's snuffed out before it gets anywhere near Mignolet. Southampton been better in recent minutes, but the Reds have a corner, which comes to nothing.
Coutinho is a lucky, lucky boy. He cheaply loses possession to Mane, the one player you don't want to lead a counter attack, but the winger's cut-back for Pelle is too deep and Liverpool just about survive.
CHANCE! Sakho, brilliant in Klopp's first two games, has been bit a shaky so far as his weak header lands at the feet of Davis, whose first-time shot from just inside the box is tame and Mignolet gathers.
SHOT! Slightly better from Coutinho, who drills just over the bar from outside the box. We predicted Southampton pre-match, and we're confident. Southampton have done enough to suggest that there's three point here for them.
Not many strikers can beat Martin Skrtel in a physical battle, but we can add Pelle to that list now. The big Italian shrugs off a challenge from the Slovakian before playing in Mane, who ran too soon and he's offside.
SHOT! Excellent work from Milner here as he swerves a few challenges before drilling just wide from outside the box. Klopp applauds from the sidelines.
Brilliant play from Liverpool here. Coutinho's cushioned ball for Lallana sets up the chance, but a poor first touch from the latter results in the chance breaking down, with Wanyama blocking Milner's effort.
CHANCE! Should be 1-0 to the Saints. Simply put. It's Virgil van Dijk, who puts a free header straight at Mignolet from point-blank range. Southampton ending the half on top.
CHANCE! Excellent chance for Liverpool to snatch a half-time lead as Alberto Moreno drills well over the bar from a really position. He went near post instead of far post for some bizarre reason.
Well, that's all she wrote for now. Southampton been the better team overall I'd say. They've probably had most of the ball, and they definitely had the best chance when Van Dijk planted his free header straight at Mignolet from about 5 yards out. Still, Klopp's side very much in this, but they need an improvement after the break.
KICKOFF: So, we're back underway. Liverpool kick us off once more. Southampton were better in the first half if we're honest and Koeman will be looking for more of the same.
Benteke's had a huge influence as his flick-on releases Coutinho, but the excellent Van Dijk intercepts again. Still, Benteke's having a big impact already.
CHANCE! Wow. It'd be 1-0 to Liverpool had Moreno had a bit of composure, but the Spaniard, with Lallana begging for a tap in, drills across the face of goal and the cross has far too much pace on it for the Englishman, who looks as if someone just nicked his last Rolo.
Liverpool fans are as loud as ever, certainly acting as a 12th man, but the team are still toiling a little. Lallana had a half chance there a moment ago, but nothing doing again.
Fifteen minutes to go and, as it stands, we're not seeing Klopp's first victory. They haven't been fluent enough in the final third and it's same old same old so far.
We said Benteke had an impact, and boy what an impact it's been. It's a brilliant header as he gets the run on Fonte to plant a wonderful James Milner cross past the helpless Stekelenburg.
This was NOT in the script. We said Southampton would nick an equaliser and wouldn't you know it, they have! It stemmed from the free kick which Milner conceded as Ward-Prowse dropped it into the box. Van Dijk flicked it on to Fonte, whose looping header landed at the back post and the completely unmarked Mane bundled it home.
That's it! Mane, who was later sent off, grabbed the late equaliser as Southampton snatched a 1-1 draw to deny Klopp his first win as Liverpool boss. Benteke had given the lead on 77 minutes, but it wasn't enough sadly for them. That's us! Cheers for joining our live text commentary and we'll see you next time.
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