Morgan Schneiderlin
Morgan Schneiderlin's return from injury will be a big boost for the Saints ahead of the Liverpool clash Getty Images/Julian Finney

Southampton welcome Liverpool to the St Mary's Stadium for a Premier League clash on Sunday.

Where to watch

Kick-off is for 4.10pm GMT. Live TV coverage is available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Live radio coverage is available on BBC Radio 5 Live. Catch the Highlights on Match of the Day Two on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.20pm GMT.

Overview

Southampton welcome Liverpool to St Mary's for a crucial clash as both teams are battling for a place in the top four of the Premier League.

The Saints are currently in fifth place after Arsenal leapfrogged them with a victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, but the south coast team can get back to third place with a win over the Merseyside club.

Ronald Koeman is confident that his team can sustain their push for a Champions League spot until the end of the season, and has received a timely boost with the return of Shane Long and Morgan Schnederlin ahead of their clash on Sunday.

Adam Lallana
Lallana (pictured above), Lovren and Lambert's return to St Mary's will be one of the key talking points ahead of the clash between Southampton and Liverpool Getty Images

Meanwhile, Liverpool come into the game as one of the form sides in the league having lost just one game in their last 10. The Reds are currently in seventh place five points behind Manchester United who are in fourth, and a win could push them up on the table and bring them closer to the teams ahead of them, depending on the results in other games.

Brendan Rodgers believes that his team have hit form following a tough start to the season, and he believes that his team have the quality to get a favourable result at Southampton.

However, a lot of the pre-game attention will be on Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren, who are all returning to Southampton for the first time since their departure to the Merseyside club in the summer.

What managers say

Ronald Koeman: "You think I am thinking about losing a game. No way. I am thinking of winning the game, I am not negative thinking. I'm surprised Liverpool have four points less than we have and to come closer they have to win. If they don't, they don't come closer."

Brendan Rodgers: "We respect Southampton and the work that they have done this year. But we know that we have got the quality and confidence at the moment to go there and get a result. If we can get a victory and go within a point, it probably takes us to where we thought it would be, edging our way towards [the top four] after a really difficult start. That's what we'll continue to do, just step by step."

Betting odds (888sport.com)

  • Southampton win: 16/11
  • Draw: 12/5
  • Liverpool win: 37/19

Team news

Southampton

  • Injured: Mayuka (groin), Alderwiereld (hamstring), Gallagher (knee), Isgrove (knock)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Yoshida; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; S. Davis, Mane, Elia; Pelle.

Liverpool

  • Injured: Enrique (knee), Gerrard (hamstring), B Jones (hip / thigh), Flanagan (knee), Lucas (groin)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Allen, Henderson, Moreno, Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana; Sturridge.

Liverpool FC Brendan Rodgers