Liverpool's Dejan Lovren catches Shane Long late and Roger East finally bows to the masses and shows the Croat yellow.

Not so much chinks of light in the Liverpool defence, as gaping great corridors of space for Southampton to exploit.

Shane Long very nearly gets onto the end of a through ball, with Dejan Lovren labouring to keep track of his man.

"Dejan Lovren, we're laughing at you," is one of the politer songs being aimed at the former Southampton defender by the home fans.

Nice dinky stuff from Southampton as Dusan Tadic swaps passes and darts into the box, but Graziano Pelle's ambitious volleyed attempt flies clean over the top.

Bright from the Saints.

Steve Claridge
Ex-Portsmouth striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"He is looking for it, he got the wrong side of Lovren, he is going across him. I think it is not a penalty, he has got it spot on, he has run in to Lovren."

A big call for referee Roger East.

The scampering Shane Long gets the wrong side of Dejan Lovren, bends his run into the penalty area and then feels a heavy Croatian arm on his back.

Down goes Long, Lovren appeals that the contact was not enough to justify going to ground and East, lagging behind play, agrees.

Image source, Reuters

More aerial danger in the Liverpool box and Virgil van Dijk muscles his way highest between Divock Origi and Mamadou Sakho at a corner, but can only nod tamely wide.

The Dutch defender wasn't running onto the cross and had to make all his own power. 

Southampton have scored more headed goals than anyone in the Premier League this season and they clearly want to get around Simon Mignolet.

Graziano Pelle challenges the Belgian keeper with a bit of an aerial nudge before Ryan Bertrand sends a cross whizzing through the box past everyone.

Liverpool have an early corner, but Philippe Coutinho's set-piece fails to beat the first man. The little Brazilian gets a chance to sort his sights when Virgil van Dijk's header drops to his feet 25 yards out, but his snap shot drifts comfortably wide.

The home fans seem to save most of their jeers for Adam Lallana as the teams are read out.

Liverpool kick off to rousing choruses of You'll Never Walk Alone from the travelling fans. 

Saints supporters respond by jeering every touch. 

There is a little bite about this already.

Image source, Reuters

Could Jon Flanagan be a late bolter for the England Euro 2016 squad? He has left it very, very late if so.

Image source, Getty

These teams have already crossed swords once at St Mary's this season.

And there was only one winner.

Liverpool romped to a 6-1 win in the Capital One Cup quarter-final in December.

Divock Origi scored a hat-trick in that one and Daniel Sturridge was deep in discussions with the young Belgian during the warm-up.

It will be interesting to see if they play as a traditional two-man strikeforce.

Image source, Reuters

The biggest Tyne-Wear derby for decades - with added Rafa v Sam spice - is getting toasty over at St James' Park.

You can keep across events in the Geordie nation over on Alistair Magowan's live text of Newcastle v Sunderland.

Image source, Reuters

Hosts Southampton have been building some solid home form as well. 

Ronald Koeman's side have won 20 points from their last 10 games - only Leicester (23) and Tottenham (22) have claimed more.

The Saints have lost just one of their last six Premier League games at St Mary's as well.

The maths is getting increasingly improbable for Liverpool.

Seven points off fourth place - although with a game in hand over Manchester City in that slot - they will need a stellar run in the last 10 games to force their way into the Champions League equation.

Would winning the Europa League be an easier route to Europe's top table? Perhaps not with Borussia Dortmund in the quarters.

Liverpool are coming into this one with a bit of momentum. If they emerge victorious today it would be the first time they have won four successive Premier League games since March 2015.

Southampton make just one change to the side that beat Stoke City away last weekend with captain Jose Fonte returning from suspension to replace Matt Targett in the back four.

Victor Wanyama, who is also available after serving a ban, is named on the bench.

Liverpool make three changes from the side that advanced in the Europa League in midweek with Brazil playmaker Roberto Firmino dropping out with an injury, along with James Milner and Jordan Henderson.

Joe Allen comes into the midfield, Jon Flanagan plays at left-back to become Liverpool's ninth captain of the season, while Divock Origi is added to the attack.

There are three former Saints in the Reds' line-up in Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren.