How Southampton could line up against Liverpool

By Oliver Thomas | 06 May 2021 15:51, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:31

Southampton are set to be without star striker Danny Ings ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Liverpool.

The 28-year-old last featured for the Saints in the 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur last month, and he could now miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Ings has scored in his last two appearances against his former club Liverpool, including a strike in January this year when Southampton won 1-0 at St Mary's.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will also be without forward Takumi Minamino, who is ineligible to face his parent club, so the Austrian may decide to start either Theo Walcott or Nathan Redmond up front alongside Che Adams.

Oriol Romeu (ankle), Ryan Bertrand (calf) and William Smallbone (knee) are also unavailable for selection, while Michael Obafemi is doubtful with a muscle problem.

Centre-back Jannik Vestergaard was show a straight red card for a challenge on Leicester City's Jamie Vardy last Friday, however his one-match ban has been rescinded following a successful appeal, and he is in contention to start at Anfield alongside Jan Bednarek.

Southampton are set to rely heavily on the creativity and threat of captain James Ward-Prowse once again this weekend; no Saints player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than the 26-year-old, who has recorded eight goals and six assists, his best career tally in the top-flight.

Southampton possible starting XI: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu; Walcott, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Redmond, Adams

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this contest