Team News: Joe Allen starts for Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has made the starting XI for this afternoon's trip to Southampton despite carrying a shoulder injury that will require surgery in the near future.

The Reds are still without first-choice goalkeeper Pepe Reina, so Brad Jones will continue to deputise between the sticks.

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has a near full-strength squad to choose from, with only Danny Fox unavailable due to a thigh strain.

January signing Vegard Forren takes up a place on the substitutes' bench.

Liverpool: Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez Subs: Gulacsi, Wisdom, Henderson, Shelvey, Lucas, Suso, Ibe

Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, Lallana, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Lambert Subs: K Davis, Fonte, S Davis, Forren, Ward-Prowse, Guly, Puncheon