It's been a long time since we have travelled away with so many so sceptical we can get a result, but with nothing to lose we just have to cross our fingers and hope.

It's not looking good for Saints as they travel to a play a Liverpool side that have won every Premier League game and finally look to have a side that can defend as well as attack.

The late goal conceded against Brighton really knocked the stuffing out of the Saints supporters and their aren't that many who are predicting anything other than a comprehensive defeat.

But there is hope and that hope is that Saints have a team spirit not present a year ago and they are a work in progress and perhaps they can provide a shock, after all Liverpool's run of wins has to end sometime so why now now.

But it will be backs against the wall stuff and we will have to do it without Danny Ings who will be unavailable to play against his parent club, however that might be a blessing in disguise as Mark Hughes will need to adhere to the old adage that "Defence is the first form of Defence".

I expect Saints to abandon 4-4-2 and revert to 4-5-1 with Shane Long as the lone striker for this game and try to keep it tight and hope that they are still in the game going into the final third and in a position to perhaps snatch it at the end.

So I suspect that the line up will be defensive minded.

McCarthy

Soares, Hoedt, Vestergaard, Bertrand

Romeu Lemina Hojbjerg Redmond

Long

As those who can count will notice that is only 10 players and im unsure who will fill that final position I suspect it will not be Elyounoussi who played on Monday, it could be JWP, it could be Steven Davis, it could even be Matt Targett, it could even be Stuart Armstrong, who knows who will be the final piece in Saturday's jigsaw.

So perhaps the most difficult game of the season, certainly so far, what we hope is firstly that we will show a team spirit that will not disgrace us and secondly we might get an unlikely point or three, but really what we need as supporters is our faith restored.

Photo: Action Images

saintwizzler added 08:24 - Sep 21 Yoshida, in a 5-4-1. Cedric and Bertrand will cross the half way line at the break and at full time.
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SanMarco added 11:01 - Sep 21 I suppose all 100% runs come to an end and if we can somehow defend well and have a bit of luck you never know. Brighton only lost 1-0 there. Basically we need Liverpool to have an off day AND we need to take advantage of it. Too often last season we met big 6 teams at good times and yet failed to take advantage. If I may end by returning to planet earth I would take 3-0 now...

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bstokesaint added 12:30 - Sep 21 Not sure where all the negativity comes from. It's not like Liverpool are joint top with 5 wins out 5 and a good win in the CL against PSG and we squandered a 2-0 lead against a woeful Brighton side....
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IWOZTHERE added 13:00 - Sep 21 Becoming increasingly worried about Hughes selections and decision making. Also read DE article today where he was talking about recent failings. No mentioning, "we'll work hard in training to eradicate the problems", but..... "It's just something that has happened, It will go away in the future".... Why am I not re-assured?
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Consigliere added 15:59 - Sep 21 I watched Saints play away to Liverpool in a pub a couple of years ago with a bunch of their supporters (very friendly, Olympic standard banter). To a man they described us as their bogey team and expected to lose. (They didn't, but that isn't the point)
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aceofthebase added 18:22 - Sep 21 Yoshida to play right back, Cedric not on the bench
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halftimeorange added 21:14 - Sep 21 I hope that Mark Hughes has had our back four on a bricklaying course since Brighton because that's the only way we will construct a wall that will keep Liverpool out. To a man they seriously need to be in a barricade building mood because a real beating will further demoralise our players and supporters. I'll be interested to see what the possession stats are for this game when they're published. Pessimism rules at the moment and it ain't okay.

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saintmark1976 added 21:52 - Sep 21 Please Nick not J W P. It's certain that if selected Redmond will do his customary vanishing trick for at least half the match at which point with J W P playing it'll be our nine against their eleven. I'm old enough to remember losing 8-0 at Everton and I've a feeling something similar is going to happen on Mersey Side tomorrow. Hope I'm wrong.u
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DPeps added 22:18 - Sep 21 This is a pretty good account of where the club is at: https://www.tifofootball.com/features/southampton-are-in-urgent-need-of-a-clear-
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warrens76 added 11:03 - Sep 22 DPeps caught the posters eye in yesterdays Echo...stand still club hoping to be a bit better, almost (bar one) of my Saints pals are fed up to to the back teeth, they know that we are all being mugged off and baring in mind a certain South apathy that will always be with us are giving up in droves..70% went during the NC years the story writes itself.
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