Afternoon everyone. Welcome to our coverage of what promises to be an intriguing battle between Ronald Koeman’s over-achievers and Brendan Rodgers’ rapidly-recovering top-four challengers.

Let’s get to the teams first, shall we?

Southampton: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett; Wanyama, Davis, Ward-Prowse; Djuricic, Pelle, Elia.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Lovren; Ibe, Henderson, Allen, Markovic; Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

So, Adam Lallana is handed a start against his former side while ex-Saint Dejan Lovren also plays. Rickie Lambert is on the bench alongside Daniel Sturridge, who is being ‘protected’ by Brendan Rodgers as he continues his recover from long-term injury problems.

For the hosts, Filip Djuricic is given a first start since arriving on loan from Benfica. Matty Targett is back while James Ward-Prowse (one of my favourite young Premier League players) comes back into midfield.

By the way, Lovren starts for the first time in the league since Liverpool were thumped 3-0 by Manchester United on 14th December. Sakho is injured so that’s why the guests have to reshuffle at the back.

Oh, and remember that the game kicks-off at the slightly odd time of 4:15 so plenty time to put the kettle on, dig out some biscuits before following on with me here.

It’s been a slightly strange experience for Lallana, Lovren and Lambert since pulling up at Anfield.  For Lallana, who signed for £25m remember, there’s been four goals in 14 league starts. As mentioned earlier, Lovren has been out of the side since before Christmas while Lambert hasn’t really got a look in. Can one pop up with a decisive moment this afternoon?

Another thing to remember today is how fresh Koeman’s side should be. They’ve had an 11-day break while Liverpool have had the tough Cup clash against Palace and the Europa League battle with Besiktas on Thursday night.

On Sky, Jamie Carragher says he’s worried about Dejan Lovren playing on the outside of a back-three, especially with Nathaniel Clyne pushing forward so much for the Saints.

Here’s how both teams are expected to line out.

Lallana has already got plenty of stick from Southampton fans pre-game. We’ll keep an eye on how it develops. Carragher says he’s worried about ‘an emotional boy’.

Quick note, by the way. Shane Long is on the bench for the Saints – back in the squad after injury.

AND WE’RE OFF! 

PENALTY CLAIM! My word! Straight from kick-off, Djuricic gets in behind the Liverpool defence and Can is with him. He goes down in the area but referee Kevin Freidn waves away the protests. But the space for Djuricic there! Incredible.

GOAL! Coutinho! What a hit from the Brazilian. About 25 yards from goal, he bends an absolute screamer to the top corner, it bounces down off the underside of the bar and nestles in the net.

What a hit. Coutinho is always capable of something magical and what a start for the guests here.

VERY CLOSE! Moments ago, another penalty claim for Southampton as Djuricic was involved again. Allen got to him, the ball broke free for Elia and Mignolet made a fantastic stop. End-to-end in these early exchanges.

Just caught another replay of that Allen challenge on Djuricic. It was a penalty. Liverpool very fortunate to get away with it. What a first start it’s been for the on-loan attacker.

One strange thing I’ve noticed here. Both teams are wearing dark shorts. Southampton in their traditional red and white stripes, black shorts. But Liverpool are in their all-black away strip.

Charlie Austin liked Coutinho’s strike.

Rain lashing down on the south coast as Southampton try to find a way back here. They forced a corner moments ago but Ward-Prowse’s corner was too close to Mignolet.

It’s tough on Koeman’s side, really. One moment of magic that they couldn’t really do anything about and they’re behind. They’ve been pretty solid in the first 16 minutes or so – keeping a good shape, pressing Liverpool in possession, shutting down the space, etc.

Jordan Ibe has popped up a few times down Liverpool’s right side now and he’s causing Targett a few problems. He’s got a good delivery, the youngster, so the hosts need to watch that closely.

Markovic almost plays in Lallana with a terrific pass over the top but a Southampton defender sticks out a leg in desperation and the danger is averted. Liverpool doing well in the last few minutes…

High praise for Ibe.

A pretty animated (and drenched) Brendan Rodgers was just barking orders at Liverpool players. Outside of Djuricic’s two penalty claims (and Elia’s shot that Mignolet stopped), the Reds have coped well so far.

The Saints have found it hard to get Pelle into the game so far. He’s struggled in front of goal for quite a while and has been pretty quiet here. Well shackled by the Liverpool defence.

Wanyama does well, heads towards the right wing, waits for the overlap and slips in Clyne. But as he takes a touch past Can, he seems to be taken down. But Friend waves play on. Moments later, in the exact same place, Southampton are awarded a free-kick.

Mignolet subsequently made a mess of his punch from that set-piece but Liverpool do get it clear and Ibe is almost released again on the right side. But he takes a heavy touch and Southampton get the ball back.

PENALTY CLAIM! Sterling is taken down in the area by Fonte, who gets the ball away but then goes right through the Liverpool attacker. It was very reckless from the centre-back and high-risk. But he gets away with it.

Wanyama has been impressive so far – towering, commanding presence in midfield and driving Southampton forward. But the conditions are wreaking havoc on proceedings – touches are poor, ball isn’t sticking to feet and players are finding it hard to stay on their feet.

Very much in agreement here. Fonte was reckless but got lucky,  sweeping his left foot at the ball and getting it clear.

Ibe does really well in the right corner. Targett comes in to challenge but Ibe still keeps the ball, shields it from Elia and eventually wins the free-kick. Great strength. But the set-piece comes to nothing.

Throwback.

YELLOW CARD! Former Saint turns sinner. Lovren takes down Ward-Prowse and despite protestations, goes in the book.

CONTROVERSY! Elia races clear after Lovren loses him, he tries to lift it over Mignolet as the goalkeeper charges off his line and the Belgian blocks with his hand right on the edge of the area. Replays seem to suggest it was outside the box.

HALF-TIME! Pinball in the Liverpool box as Mignolet parries a shot and then tries to gather a cross, gets it all wrong and the ball very nearly gets turned into the net. Liverpool survive and there goes the half-time whistle.

Great half of football, that. Plenty of incident and Southampton can feel hard done by. They’ve played well and been quite cohesive. Mignolet arguably deserved to be sent-off late on for handling outside the area but it was very tight and incredibly difficult for officials to make a definitive call.

A moment of magic separates the sides but unlikely to be just one goal in this game.

Good shout from Michael Cox, here.

SUBSTITUTION! Schneiderlin (on) – Davis (off)

Back after injury, the Frenchman adds plenty to the Saints midfield.

SUBSTITUTION! Moreno (on) – Markovic (off) 

Liverpool also make a change and Moreno comes in at left wing-back.

We’re back underway, by the way…

Bright start to the second half from Southampton. Good tempo, Schneiderlin gives them added security and he pops up with some nice skill here, feeds Pelle who shoots well wide. He desperately needs a goal.

Little bit of a lull as the Saints try to force a way through here. But credit to Liverpool who have tweaked things and tightened up in key areas.

SUBSTITUTION! Mane (on) – Ward-Prowse (off) 

Southampton look for something more offensive, gamble and bring in the midfielder/attacker. Expect more space for Liverpool to open up.

Mane has already been involved a few times down the right side and he’s giving Moreno and Can something to worry about.

SUBSTITUTION! Sturridge (on) – Lallana (off)

Lallana’s return to St. Mary’s hasn’t been very enjoyable. Roundly booed and jeered, he’s been largely anonymous and trudges off to be replaced by the striker.

YELLOW CARD! Wanyama is the second player to go in the book after a pretty decent-looking challenge. Friend is sure to be the focus of much of the post-game interviews.

This a little harsh on Liverpool. They’ve been much better than United were back in December. Certainly haven’t had many clear-cut chances but neither have Southampton, really.

Yoshida, who has been terrific, intercepts brilliantly, charges forward and feeds Elia but he’s closed down. Eventually Mane gets it back and is taken down as he dribbles across the area. Free kick in a good position now.

Disappointing from Djuricic and the set-piece comes to nothing. 20 minutes to go and despite the Saints’ pressure, they’ve not been able to engineer proper chances.

GOAL! Sterling! A couple of errors in their own area by Southampton and Moreno sends in a cross, Targett can only help it into the path of Sterling who rifles it to the net.

Sterling takes it very well and it seems Liverpool’s impressive march is set to continue.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Tadic (on) – Djuricic (off) & Johnson (on) – Ibe (off)

This is a pretty impressive stat regarding Sterling’s ability in front of goal.

Southampton with plenty of the ball, nice touches and crisp passing but unable to do much in the final third. Remind you of another side managed by a Dutchman?

CLOSE! Sturridge jinks away from one tackle and is through in the area. He takes the shot on his weaker right foot and he just can’t bend it around Fraser Forster enough – the keeper getting down to smother.

There’s going to be four minutes of injury time and a free-kick for Southampton, again in a decent zone. But no Ward Prowse on the pitch to whip in a decent delivery. Looks like Tadic instead.

The ball bounced and bobbled around the area following the free-kick but it ends up with Schneiderlin launching himself in the air and sending a bicycle kick towards the near post but Mignolet got down and made the stop.

So, the top of the table will look a little like this at full-time:

Chelsea 60

Man City 55

Arsenal 48

Man Utd 47

Southampton 46

Liverpool 45

Tottenham 44

AND THAT’S FULL-TIME! 

This says it all, really. Southampton had plenty of the ball but lacked a spark and a ruthlessness in front of goal. In contrast, Coutinho’s early strike was a moment of inspiration (something the home side desperately needed) while Sterling fired home with minimum fuss to make the game safe.

Thanks for staying with us throughout our coverage. We’ll have plenty more reaction on the site a little later.