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Sat 24 October 2015 15:15, UK

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During a 2014/15 of largely uninspiring toil under Brendan Rodgers it seemed impossible to pinpoint exactly what, besides the loss of Luis Suarez, was wrong with Liverpool.
Two games into Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield jurisdiction it has already become abundantly clear, they are distinctly lacking in fitness and its reliant subordinate, concentration.
Both fixtures have seen the German’s Liverpool troops manage about 15 minutes of his patented ‘gegenpressing’ before their intensity begins to dwindle.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, their opponents Southampton demonstrated far more stamina in their application to the philosophy of high-up-the-pitch harassment.
Yet, last time out, they too were guilty of a demonstrable loss of focus in allowing Leicester to claim a point after taking their interval oranges in possession of a 2-0 lead.
Given both sides’ previous for dwindling concentration, the second half is expected to be where the action is in this particular encounter.
Win, lose or draw
The lot of the gambling Liverpool fan is a sorrowful one, as no matter how average they become it remains impossible to back them at an appetising price.
It’s a status quo, borne of their authority in decades past, that is especially depressing in this instance, as there is reason to suspect they may somehow best the Saints, despite failing to sparkle so far under their new manager.
The Reds struggled for fluency for the entirety of last season, while Southampton spent much of it being considered Champions League contenders.
But it didn’t stop them doing the double over their south coast foes, even winning 2-0 at St Mary’s without recourse to Daniel Sturridge in late February.
It cannot be ignored, however, that the visitors are in far better form of late and they have lost just once on the road all season.
Yet, Liverpool for all their ills, have only been bested on one occasion at Anfield this term and given last season’s superiority, are expected to avoid defeat.
Recommended bet: Draw @ 5/2
Under/Over
Southampton games are dripping goals, with their last five outings in all competitions each producing four or more.
Whether that will prove enough to draw out Liverpool’s well-hidden clinical side is unlikely given their recent profligacy shows little sign of abating
They misfired no fewer than 18 shots off target against Rubin Kazan last time, skewing 42 wide of the mark in the infamous Capital One Cup draw with Carlisle.
A reasonably taut rearguard has been their saving grace during this tumultuous period, shipping once or less in nine of their last ten games.
Marshalled by the increasingly impressive Mamadou Sakho they can keep the visiting end of the scoreboard quiet.
Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals 17/20
Who’s going to score?
Few players have committed themselves to the Klopp regime with as much noticeable on-pitch zeal as Adam Lallana since the German’s arrival.
Only Danny Ings has outscored the former Saints skipper for Liverpool across all competitions this term and he rates a solid alternative to their various half-cooked strikers.
At 2/1 to bag anytime it would be churlish to doubt Graziano Pelle’s credentials, with the matinee idol centre-forward having scored five times in his first nine games.
However, those interested in a lively outsider should look no further than visiting Virgil van Dijk, who struck ten times in 58 games for Celtic last season.
The Dutchman has already found the net twice in his first five outings under Ronald Koeman.
Recommended bet: Virgil van Dijk to score anytime @ 17/2
Left-field wager
As alluded to previously both sides have shown a tendency to lose intensity as the game progresses over the last week or so and the goals are expected to come after the break as a result.
Recommended bet: More goals to be scored in the second half @ 6/5
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