AUTHOR: JAN MOLBY
It's a big blow losing Philippe Coutinho for six weeks but if Liverpool want to have a successful season then they must find a way to be able to cope without the Brazilian.
Every club will be hurt by losing key players over the course of the campaign and in those situations you need others to stand up and be counted.
Coutinho was a big part of Monday's excellent first-half performance against Swansea as we finally saw him in that central role where he's at his best. We also saw how much he was missed after he went off.
Brendan Rodgers can't turn to a like-for-like replacement for Coutinho as we don't have another player with his skills.
But the manager does have options with Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto able to play in that central role or he could put Raheem Sterling out wide and then play Jordan Henderson through the middle.
the most likely solution is probably a recall for Aspas. It's fair to say the Spaniard has had a slow start to the season following his move from Celta Vigo. but he has plenty of experience and hopefully tomorrow's visit of Southampton will help kickstart his Liverpool career.
He really needs a goal just to get that monkey off his back.
Whatever Rodgers decides I think tomorrow is going to be a tricky game at Anfield. The only thing Southampton have been missing so far this season is goals.
They have yet to score from open play and were held to a goalless draw by West Ham last weekend but Mauricio Pochettino has got them very well organised.
I think it could be a long afternoon for Liverpool in terms of trying to break them down.
I like Southampton and what they're trying to achieve. They aren't scared to spend big and they realise the best way to move forward is to buy two or three players rather than seven or eight.
With the likes of Lambert, Osvaldo and Rodriguez they have good strikers with a real physical presence.
We would all love to see a big Liverpool win as there hasn't been one since the pressure was off in the closing months of last season.
But I can't see that happening tomorrow. If the Reds are going to extend their stay at the top of the Premier League it could be one where it's all hands to the pump to ensure we get the three points.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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