Liverpool will want to ensure it's still looking down at the rest of the Premier League when the club visits Southampton on Saturday with a bull's-eye on their back.
The Merseysiders are the division's pacesetters, top scorers, best passers and want to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games. The Saints, conversely, have only enjoyed one win in their last five top-flight fixtures and Jurgen Klopp will not want that mini-slump to subside at St. Mary's this weekend.
Sadio Mane is back on the Saints' soil for the first time since his summer switch to Anfield, having directly contributed 10 goals in his 11 appearances under Klopp. He is one of four players in the squad to have left Southampton for Liverpool.
LIVERPOOL INJURIES
Adam Lallana is the main concern for the Reds after scoring a penalty then picking up a groin issue in England's friendly draw with Spain. Initial indications suggest the problem is not serious, but the former Southampton star is unlikely to line up against his old club.
Liverpool will employ a risk-averse approach to a player who has been core to the club's incredible start to the campaign.
Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren — the latter missing out against Watford because of a virus — should join Mane in running out on their previous home ground.
Joe Gomez, back from anterior cruciate ligament damage, will not be rushed into returning, while Sheyi Ojo is training again. Danny Ings is a long-term absentee.
Philippe Coutinho went for a precautionary scan on a tight hamstring Thursday, and will be assessed late before it is decided whether he travels or not.
LIVERPOOL SUSPENSIONS
Neither Liverpool nor Southampton has any suspensions to contend with.
LIVERPOOL POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
With Lallana highly likely to miss out, Gini Wijnaldum should slot back into midfield. Liverpool's Brazilian duo Roberto Firmino and Coutinho reported to Melwood on Thursday after their long flight back from Peru.
The latter was pictured at Spire Hospital, raising doubts about his fitness, but he was not an automatic starter for the game having played 170 minutes for his country in addition to his taxing travel schedule.
Firmino, meanwhile, didn't even reach double digits of action, so fatigue should not be a factor for the attacker.
Daniel Sturridge would fancy a run out from the off should Coutinho not be given the green light, with Divock Origi also hoping for an opportunity.
Klopp is not short of options, and could even plump for both strikers in tandem — the duo were scintillating when Liverpool scorched Southampton 6-1 at St. Mary's in the League Cup last season.
SOUTHAMPTON DOSSIER
The hosts have lost consecutive league games against Chelsea and Hull, but Klopp has pointed out that belies their multiple strengths — evidenced when they held Manchester City to a draw at the Etihad.
"Claude Puel is an unbelievably experienced man and you can see it in each game," the Liverpool boss said. "We watched three of their games and, results-wise, it was not that good in the last few games because of different reasons but it was not about the performance.
"The performance was always good, even when they lost against Chelsea or whatever, it was good."
Oriol Romeu and Dusan Tadic have been brilliant for Southampton, with Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond among the goals.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
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Southampton has dropped more points from leading positions than any other team this season (8), while no side has collected more from behind than Liverpool (6).
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Coutinho has scored in three of his previous four visits to St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League.
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Klopp’s side has won 16 games in 2016 — no Premier League side has won more.
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Only Firmino (28) has created more chances from open play in the Premier League this season than Dusan Tadic (25, level with David Silva).
