Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

Are Liverpool finally the real deal? Given that we know just how formidable they are going forward - and given just how long they've been craving a top-class goalkeeper - the signing of Alisson from Roma is the peg on which title optimism is being hung.

If Virgil van Dijk can continue to ooze authority to those around him at the back - and with Keita, Fabinho and Shaqiri more than compensating for the loss of Emre Can - the Reds would appear to have few weaknesses.

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Codge in Stoke: When was the last Premier League game to feature 4 English goalkeepers amongst the matchday squad? Saints v Burnley

Plenty of English talent among the outfield players as well, Codge. Hope Mr Southgate has a close eye on St Mary's

Ten minutes to kick-off.

It's tipping down at St Mary's, overcast and moody at Anfield.

A good day for umbrella sellers.

Mark Lawrenson
Ex-Liverpool defender and BBC football expert

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Virgil Van Dijk is so good that anyone can play alongside him – he’s that good. If Joe Gomez gets a run of games, he could make that position his own. He has really improved. Liverpool have also now got a top goalkeeper and that will help Gomez as well.

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Dawn: The half and half scarf. Shining symbol of the tourist fan, and everything that's changing with modern football fans - causing hefty ticket prices and stadiums sounding like libraries.

Daniel Rayner: On half scarves, reason why I hate them so much is because I support my team and can't think of anything worse than having a scarf with the badge of a rival on!

RedMad: Half and half scarfs are such a great idea. Imagine Man Utd/Man City or Spurs/Arsenal. who wouldn't want one?

Alex Bruce
Wigan defender on BBC Radio 5 live

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We all know the talent Jack Wilshere has. He’s an exceptional player who can glide past people and unlock defences. The question mark is whether he can stay fit and put a number of games together. If he can, his link-up with Marko Arnautovic could be a real asset to West Ham.

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Hassan Anfield: Do my eyes deceive me or do we finally have a strong bench? Lovren, Matip, Ox still missing, for the first time in years LFC finally have depth.

Kaushik Majumdar: Excited about Liverpool's season - finally a good starting 11 & an equally good bench, something we didn’t have last year! Ox, Matip, Klavan, Woodburn not even in the side! Mind you, on paper West Ham's starting 11 midfield onwards looks really good too!

Lots of goals then today.

Southampton manager Mark Hughes has opted to start with two of his new recruits this afternoon, as Stuart Armstrong takes his place on the right of a front three, while Jannik Vestergaard makes his debut at the heart of the defence.

Former Burnley striker Danny Ings starts on the bench after the Winchester-born forward completed a deadline day loan move from Liverpool, ahead of a permanent switch next summer.

Fellow new signings Angus Gunn and Mohamed Elyounoussi are also included among the replacements.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Stephens, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Cedric, Romeu, Lemina, Bertrand, Armstrong, Redmond, Austin.

Subs: Ings, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Hojbjerg, Gunn, Bednarek.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sean Dyche makes four changes to his Burnley side that drew 0-0 with Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday.

Matthew Lowton and Stephen Ward come in for Phil Bardsley and Charlie Taylor in the wing-back positions, while Aaron Lennon replaces Jonathan Walters and Chris Wood starts ahead of Ashley Barnes.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to make his first appearance in the Premier League for the Clarets, after making his competitive debut in Turkey.

Summer signing Ben Gibson starts on the bench but Matej Vydra misses out on the squad following his step up from the Championship with Derby County.

Burnley XI: Hart, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Lennon, Hendrick, Wood.

Subs: Heaton, Taylor, Vokes, Barnes, Gibson, Walters, Bardsley.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Hames: Not seen a Liverpool bench this strong since Klopp fielded a weakened first XI in the Merseyside derby at the end of last season. This is one bolstered squad.

Ar vind: TAA and Gomez are going to be tested by Anderson and Arnautovic. That Liverpool line-up looks frightening. There will be goals today for both sides.

Ken Holmes: The Liverpool love-in continues. If they don’t win the league will he be criticised? Not by the Liverpool BBC mafia.

We'll tell it how it is Ken, don't worry.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has been explaining his first line-up of the season.

"Alisson has to play his game. We have worked together for two weeks - that’s not the world but it’s ok.

“Naby was here for all six weeks of the pre-season, like Fabinho. Shaqiri came later. Both are in the squad, that’s very important for us.

“Usually in the past, I think I always played with the team of last year at the beginning of the season but Hendo came back a bit late and stuff like that, so it makes sense.

“And they played really well together in midfield, for example against Napoli. Gini, Naby and Millie have worked together since we started pre-season, so that’s the midfield we wanted to have.

“Up front is clear. The defensive line is pretty much the defensive line of last year; Joe Gomez is in now at centre-half, he played a good pre-season.

“Of course, I never forget the last season – why should I? But the actual performance and impression in training is more important, and that’s the line-up.

Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

Manuel Pellegrini has come in - he's a title winner and is saying the right thing. West Ham fans want their team to play a certain way and Pellegrini is saying he will do that. Ten new signings freshens things up and this is the most optimistic West Ham have been in a long time.

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Image source, Rex Features

Andy: That's probably the ideal Hammers starting line-up. Hope to see Yarmolenko come off the bench and cause havoc later on.

Luke: Have to say I think West Ham have done the best business this summer. Also have to say I think that Henderson and Shaqiri have found their most likely positions this season... on the bench.

Prince Gyimah: We are all ready and very hopeful this season. Maybe this is our year! Yes, we've been saying it for years now but I can't be pessimistic after all the additions which have strengthened the squad. Come on Reds.

Alex Bruce
Wigan defender on BBC Radio 5 live

I think the Liverpool midfield has a really nice blend. Keita has performed well in pre-season, Milner brings experience and know-how and Wijnaldum is now a very accomplished Premier League midfielder. Liverpool should be too strong for West Ham today.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp introduces over £110m of new talent into his team as summer signings, Alisson and Naby Keita both start.

Guinea midfielder Keita arrived for over £50m from RB Leipzig, while Alisson joined from Roma, for a then world record fee for a goalkeeper, of £66.8m, in July.

Another new signing, Xherdan Shaqiri starts on the bench, as does England midfielder Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Fabinho, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Shaqiri.

Image source, BBC Sport

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini bloods five of his 10 summer signings from the start at Anfield.

Lukasz Fabiansk, Ryan Fredericks, Fabian Balbuena, Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere are all in from the off, while Andriy Yarmolenko, who has recovered from a hip problem, takes a place on the substitutes bench.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Rice, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Anderson, Noble, Wilshere, Masuaku, Antonio, Arnautovic.

Subs: Adrian, Zabaleta, Snodgrass, Obiang, Hernandez, Yarmolenko, Diop.

Image source, Getty Images

Rain clouds have been drifting across Merseyside this morning and we could see a burst of rain at Anfield.

At least this fan has come prepared.

Tony Husband
BBC sports presenter and commentator

If there's a lesson fans of both clubs can unify around ahead of this game, it's that you should enjoy the good times when they come.

Years of progress came shuddering to a halt last season for Southampton - they were lucky to stay up. Burnley's terrific year means they're now juggling European football alongside the league.

Thursday's battling draw in Istanbul suggests Sean Dyche's side have lost none of their steel, but only 17 outfield players travelled to Turkey.

Image source, Reuters

That's a very attacking West Ham team.

Thoughts Hammers fans?

And no start for Danny Ings at Southampton? Has Mark Hughes got that one right?

Let me know.

Danny Ings starts on the bench for new club Southampton, who include summer signings Stuart Armstrong and Jannik Vestergaard.

Burnley include England keeper Joe Hart, but Ben Gibson is on the bench. New signing Matej Vydra is not involved.

Full team news from St Mary's coming up.

New signings Alisson and Naby Keita start for Liverpool.

West Ham include five of their summer recruits from the start - Ryan Fredericks, Jack Wilshere, Fabian Balbuena, Felipe Anderson and Lukasz Fabianski.

Liverpool's bench includes Loris Karius and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Full team news from Anfield coming up.

Burnley

Image source, .

Southampton's newest recruit Danny Ings found the net 43 times in his three-and-a-half seasons at Turf Moor.