Premier League Match Week 26: 5 Things to Watch For
Photo Courtesy of Twitter @SouthamptonFC
1. Southampton v. Liverpool Has Enormous Bearing on the Table and Champions League Race
Liverpool will travel to the south coast to take Southampton on at St. Mary’s, in what is undoubtedly the match of the week. Not only is the recent personal history between the sides relevant with the Reds buying 3 former Saints players over the Summer, but now the clubs find themselves as part of a pack fighting for Champions League spots. Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, and Adam Lallana made their way from Southampton to Liverpool after impressive seasons last campaign, leaving the Saints as favorites by some pundits to be relegated after this season. Boy has their side, led by potential manager of the year Ronald Koeman, proven most people wrong.
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Saints Marching
Of the three signings from Southampton, only Adam Lallana has had a major impact on Liverpool’s season, more so their 2015 revival. After enduring trying struggles in the early part of the season, Liverpool have inserted themselves back into the conversation with a sizzling run of form. Rodgers shared his belief to continue that run at Southampton this weekend in his pre-match press conference:
"“We respect Southampton and the work that they have done this year. But we know that we have got the quality and confidence at the moment to go there and get a result. If we can get a victory and go within a point, it probably takes us to where we thought it would be, edging our way towards [the top four] after a really difficult start. That’s what we’ll continue to do, just step by step.”"
With the aforementioned players coming back to play their first match against Southampton at St. Mary’s, much of the match’s focus has been on their return rather than what the Saints bring to the table both in this match and for their top 4 potential. Ronald Koeman seemed a bit annoyed when addressing question after question about the returning players:
"“It’s not my question, my question is to prepare the team for the Sunday game. I don’t talk about players who are coming back to the club where they played last season, because then I can talk every week about a player who comes back to Southampton. It is Southampton against Liverpool, not Southampton against some players who played last season for Southampton.”"
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The Top Flight
Everyone is waiting for Southampton to fall apart. It can’t be possible that a non-EPL giant can remain in contention so long and take a top 4 spot. It will be up to Southampton to dismiss this assumption as they must prove themselves again despite winning successive matches against Arsenal and Manchester United to start the new year. After a few disappointing draws, Graziano Pelle will need to find his scoring shoes again for the final stretch of matches.
On the other side, Liverpool are out to prove the doubters that left them for dead wrong. A late Daniel Sturridge goal earned the Reds the victory in the opening match of the season between the two sides at Anfield. The Liverpool faithful are hoping for a similar result this Sunday.