Darwin DECISION, Slot RECALLS star: Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs Southampton

Following Manchester City's seismic loss to Tottenham last night, Liverpool's trip to the south coast to face Southampton provides an opportunity to go eight points clear at the top.

Whilst every game is important, this one is beginning to take on a quite nerve-wracking distinction - especially with City themselves travelling to Anfield next weekend.

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Head coach Arne Slot will have the midweek visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League and that clash of the titans against City on his mind, but questions about how much that would be reflected in today's lineup was countered by a small injury crisis.

Here is the lineup for Liverpool vs Southampton at St Mary’s.

The back line

The injury Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up against Aston Villa last time out still keeps him out of the side, and so Conor Bradley gets his first league start of the season. This shouldn't be a worry, however, as Bradley's form for his national side has been nothing short of spectacular.

Virgil van Dijk was an injury worry following an early return from international duty, but if he is fit enough then he will always be starting. Ibrahima Konate, naturally, joins him.

Andy Robertson's place in the starting XI has been less than guaranteed recently with Kostas Tsimikas being preferred as of late. However, Robertson's performances for Scotland over the past couple of weeks have evidently been enough to get him back in Slot's good books.

The midfield battle

Ryan Gravenberch has is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world right now and that change would have been a shock.

Whilst Alexis Mac Allister has been his mainstay midfield partner this term, his long journey back from Argentina this week has seemingly necessitated a rest.

Both Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai impressed for their countries - the former scoring a wonderful goal on his debut - and so deservedly get the nod.

The front three

Mo Salah was rested over the international break. He is the first name on the teamsheet regardless of his fatigue level, so his inclusion was a given.

Darwin Nunez similarly faced a long journey back from South America but Liverpool lack other legitimate centre-forward options at the moment, rendering him crucial.

Whilst Luis Diaz is the starter on the left, he was always a rest option for today with the importance of the games coming up and a South American trip in tow. Cody Gakpo takes the place on the left hand side.

(4-2-1-3): Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

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