Nathaniel Clyne, one of Liverpool's many ex-Saints players, wriggles into space down the right flank, cutting the ball back towards Divock Origi.

Maya Yoshida and Steven Davis have a moment of miscommunication before the former hacks out.

Southampton get the ball rolling - and boot the ball straight out of play from the kick-off. Fred in Row A is caught unaware and has his glasses knocked off by the wayward pass. Not a great start for Saints or that fella.

Image source, EPA

Game on!

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Lucas, Wijnaldum, Can, Firmino, Origi, Coutinho. Subs: Karius, Sturridge, Grujic, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Alexander-Arnold. 

Southampton: Forster, Cedric, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Boufal, Gabbiadini. Subs: Long, Rodriguez, Caceres, Redmond, Hojbjerg, Pied, Hassen. 

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)

Here's a reminder of why Liverpool need to win today...

An ear-splitting reception greets the two sets of the players, then it is a time for a spot of Gerry Marsden. And the Pacemakers of course... 

The dressing room buzzers have gone off. James Milner leads the Liverpool players out into the tunnel, with Steven Davis at the front of the Saints line.

Both sets of players are followed out by a bloke wielding a mobile phone. The footage will be coming to an official Liverpool social media account near you soon.

On this day in 2011, Southampton - then managed by Nigel Adkins - secured promotion to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Walsall.

The goals came from Guly do Prado, David Connolly and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in a Saints team which also featured Adam Lallana, Jose Fonte and Ricky Lambert.

Image source, Getty Images

MOTD2 Extra

Sunday Times journalist Jonathan Northcroft on Liverpool midfielder Emre Can: "He is one of those players who divides opinion. There are some Liverpool fans firmly in his camp but there are element who think he could do more. He is only 23 - he is still a young player.

"Position is a key thing for him. He has played right-back for Germany and Pep Guardiola wanted to play him at centre-back at Bayern Munich, that's why he left. 

"He appreciates how Klopp has played him in central midfield and allows him to make forward runs like the one which led to his goal against Watford."

Jason McAteer
Former Liverpool midfielder on MOTD 2 Extra

I don't think Liverpool are going to let a top-four spot slip. They'll get it done today. They've got the opportunity back in their hands. They are playing before Manchester United and Arsenal - it's a great incentive to get that three points.

Against Crystal Palace they got in front and you felt the impetus would be to go on and win, but it didn't happen. Complacency slipped into the display. But the performance away to Watford surprised a few critics.

If they miss out on the top four, I think it would be a failure. The ground is now geared up for Champions League football. Anything but a top four finish would be a disaster.

The faces in the home stands are beaming positivity in the Anfield stands. Jurgen Klopp will be hoping it transmits onto his players.

The German's side know they will secure a top-four Premier League finish - and a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons - by winning their final three games.

The Merseyside club go to West Ham next weekend, before hosting relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at Anfield.

Michael Wood: "My mum was a big Man Utd fan. When she was in the last stages of throat cancer, I arranged for her to go the opening game of the season at Old Trafford (I think it was Bolton?). She died 2 weeks before the game, and I called the club to say they could give the place to someone else. To my surprise I got a personal letter from Sir Alex Ferguson saying how sorry he was. Very classy. 

We've been asking for your tales of footballing generosity. 

This is brilliant from Bradford City...

App users may have to select 'view more' to see this content

App users may have to select 'view' to see this content

Rapturous reception for the Liverpool players as they jog off down the tunnel following their warm-up.

Time for another splash of the pitchside sprinklers.

Image source, Rex Features

Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator at Anfield

Having failed to score against Southampton over the course of three matches already this season, Liverpool would be right to be wary of this latest encounter at a time when they can afford no more slip-ups.

After drawing with Bournemouth and losing to Palace, a home win is overdue - but Southampton have already exploited Liverpool's vulnerabilities as well as anyone.

If Jurgen Klopp's side do fail to finish in the top four it will be entirely of their own doing after underperforming in too many games which on paper seemed underwhelming.

Southampton may be securely mid-table without too much to trouble them, but the boos which greeted their inability to beat Hull at St Mary's a week ago will have hurt and should ensure a response.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Liverpool owe Saints after they lost to them in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, and I think they will get some revenge.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro's full predictions v indie rock band Kasabian

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game

So the good news for Liverpool fans is that Philippe Coutinho has recovered well enough from a dead leg to start.

The Reds are unchanged from Monday's 1-0 win ober Watford - Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge are on the bench.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner, Can, Lucas, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Origi.

Image source, .

Just the one change for Southampton with James Ward-Prowse replacing Nathan Redmond.

It was hoped Charlie Austin might be involved for the first time since dislocating a shoulder in December, but he's not in the squad.

Southampton: Forster, Soares, Yoshida, Stephens, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Boufal, Gabbiadini.

Image source, .

More Arsenal-Manchester United later. Back to Liverpool! 

A good 90% of the Anfield pitch is covered in sunshine as the two sets of players go through their pre-match warm-ups.

Here's who will be starting the game in about half an hour...

Image source, Getty Images

Ah, Lauren. If there was one photo that sums up the former Arsenal right-back then it is the one in the entry below. He didn't mind getting stuck in...