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The teams are in. Shane Long is back from injury and is named on the bench for Southampton.
We’re underway…
Southampton have started this game confidently.
The hosts have dominated the possession and territory thus far.
After some early positive play from the hosts, Liverpool are starting to control the game.
There’s plenty of booing from the home fans as the Reds pass the ball around crisply.
Great ball carrying by Nathan Redmond, who has three Liverpool players chasing him before Lovren eventually makes a good tackle.
Despite being the home side, it looks like Southampton will be playing this game on the counter-attack.
Southampton are finding some joy down Liverpool’s left-hand side.
Cédric Soares has just delivered a cross that Karius has to punch clear.
It hasn’t been the best of games so far, to be frank.
Liverpool have yet to register a single shot on goal.
Milner is lucky to escape a booking after a very late challenge on Redmond.
Unsurprisingly, the crowd make it known that they don’t agree with Mark Clattenburg’s lenient decision.
Close! It’s Liverpool’s first real chance of the match.
A Sadio Mane effort from the edge of the area forces Forster to tip the ball just over.
Southampton are doing a good job curbing the threat of Coutinho so far.
There are two or three players around him every time he gets the ball.
Mane runs through on goal, but Van Dijk makes a superb recovery challenge to block his shot.
Liverpool are beginning to look more threatening now.
HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
The second half has begun…
Van Dijk tugs Firmino’s jersey and the striker goes down in the box theatrically.
It may have been an exaggerated fall, but the Southampton defender took a big risk there.
Moments later, Forster saves Mane’s attempt from a tight angle.
Shortly thereafter, Van Dijk gives the ball away, and Firmino plays through Coutinho, but Fonte puts in a superb last-ditch challenge.
Liverpool look to have picked up the tempo in this second half.
A dangerous free kick is flighted in by Coutinho, and Charlie Austin manages to steer it over the bar and avoid an own goal.
Liverpool continue to look the more likely side to break the deadlock.
As I type, however, Austin heads Cédric Soares’ inch-perfect cross just wide.
This is the type of game that, if Liverpool win, it will lead to plenty of ‘that’s the sign of champions comments’.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have not been at their best today, and will need to win ugly if at all.
Can charges forward and drives an attempt just wide.
It’s not quite clicking for Liverpool’s attack at the moment.
Big, big chance!
Coutinho plays an excellent through ball to Firmino, who slots the ball narrowly wide. That’s a poor miss.
Meanwhile, Shane Long has replaced Sofiane Boufal for Southampton.
Long attempts to break, but the four defenders around the striker ultimately stop him.
It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool can deal with the pace of the Tipperary native on the counter attack.
Milner’s cross finds Firmino, but the Brazilian fails to get a proper contact on the ball and it goes well over.
Much of the game is being played in Southampton’s half now.
Coutinho gets deservedly booked for petulantly kicking out at Redmond.
Daniel Sturridge replaces Can for Liverpool, while 21-year-old Harrison Reed comes on for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg for Southampton.
Clyne has just missed a gilt-edged chance for Liverpool.
Sturridge beats his man down the left, and delivers the perfect cross, but the defender’s bullet header goes narrowly wide of the post.
Firmino’s shot is parried away by Forster.
Southampton are under the cosh here, and will do well to escape from this game with a point.
Liverpool have had 74% possession in the second half.
Considering they’re the away team, that’s an incredible statistic.
In a slightly surprising turn of events, Southampton are starting to come forward a little as injury time approaches.
Liverpool will definitely view this game as two points dropped if the score remains the same.
Divock Origi has replaced Sadio Mane.
The young Belgian striker has less than four minutes to score a winner.
Van Dijk is deservedly named man of the match.
He’s been excellent today.
FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
So a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool, as a resilient Southampton defensive display ensures the points are shared.
That’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to follow.
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