This is probably Saints most important match since we returned to the Premier League in 2012, win it and we take a giant step forward.

Ronald Koeman has made it quite clear in his pre match comments, Southampton Football Club are looking to keep building and moving forward and a natural progression in doing that is winning trophies and qualifying for European football.

Koeman is no mug and realises that winning the Premier league is not realistic at least not presently, so we need to look at both the Capital One & The FA Cup to win a trophy.

In terms of doing that, Saints have rarely looked like doing so, since our last semi final in these competitions, ironically against Liverpool in 1987 we have only reached a semi final once, that being in the FA Cup in 2003.

Football clubs need glory, they need to be challenging otherwise they just stagnate, the Championship and even below is full of clubs who have been in the Premier League but eventually their star waned amid disinterest from supporters fed up of mid table mediocrity every year.

So this is another chance to reach a semi final after the disappointment of a year ago at Sheffield United, we have learnt our lessons and strengthened the squad since then and stand in good stead ready for the task ahead.

When the draw was made it looked like Saints were favourites, but form since has favoured Liverpool and the Jurgen Klopp influence has started to kick in, but we shouldnt overestimate how much Klopp can do with a squad that is average, since we played them at the end of October they have won six and lost only one of the seven games they have played, in that were two great victories at Chelsea and Manchester City and they should not be underestimated, but the other victories were not so decisive and only by a single goal and against sides that are struggling lke Bournemouth and Swansea, indeed Crystal Palace went and won at Anfield to show that there is lot of work for Liverpool to do yet.

Yes they have some talented individuals but they are far from a team and to be blunt few of their players would get into our team at present.

So we have to concentrate on our strengths and that is keeping it tight at the back and going at them quickly and for the jugular, we won at Chelsea too so we have nothing to fear.

The key is getting our line up right, at the back that means Soares at right back alongside Caulker and Van Dijk with Bertrand at left back, Ronald Koeman has already confirmed that Caulker will replace Fonte, but we do need to have the speed and guile of Soares rather than Yoshida.

In midfield I would expect to see Wanyama and Clasie hold with Davis in front of them and Mane & Tadic out wide, JWP has not done enough to merit a place ahead f either of these five so he has to make way.

Also out will have to be Shane Long, harsh on the Irishman but Saints need Pelle to play the way they do and he will have to settle for a place on the bench to do that.

This is our strongest line up available and one that knows how to play the system that serves us well, but we are strong on the bench as well, Long & Juanmi will offer attacking options, Romeu & JWP central midfield options & Yoshida cover defensively the final outfield place is not so certain with perhaps Matt Targett or Harrison Read getting the nod or even Ryan Seager.

When you compare that strength to the team and bench against Sheffield United a year ago, you can see where we have improved so much in terms of squad quality.

The fact is that we have to be positive, play our best side, play to our strengths and do what we have done best under Koeman, keep it tight and take the chances when they come.

A month ago when the draw was made saw us as favourites, perhaps less so now with Liverpool benefiting from the influence of Klopp, but the fact still remains he has not got a balanced top quality squad, he has to keep it tight at the back and that means sacrificing attacking flair at times.

We should still consider ourselves favourites if we play our best team we will win.

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