Saints supporters have both good and bad news on the injury front for both sides ahead of Liverpool's visit to St Mary's for a rare Saturday 3pm kick off for this fixture.

Saints supporters will be pleased to hear that there is mainly good news on the injury front ahead of the game against Liverpool on Saturday, the big news is that Cedric Soares is now back in full training and fit to take his place in the side if selected for the game against the Reds.

That is music to the ears of Saints fans with right back being a contentious area for the team since Soares was injured at Leicester City seven weeks ago, Cuco Martina has at times been an able deputy, but at Hull City Yoshida was preferred, with Liverpool's fast attacking game neither would be ideal indeed Martina was exposed in the game at St Mary's last season resulting in a 2-0 half time deficit which really should have been three.

Soares returning will not only give Saints pace on the right flank, but also offer defensive nous as the Portugese defender holds his position and doesn't go walkabout.

Other good news is that both Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand should be fit to play after minor knocks with the England squad and that Pierre Emile Hojbjerg has also recovered from his injury with Denmark.

Dusan Tadic also looks certain to play some part, the Serbian showed that he doesn't lack courage in playing on after a horrific broken nose injury for his country against Wales and wants to play on Saturday even if that means wearing a mask.

The bad news is that Shane Long won't be fit to be picked for selection, although that is tempered with the fact that the Irishman has returned to full training, but the club medical staff feel that this game is a little too soon, however he could be back either in midweek against Sparta Prague or for next weekend's visit of Everton to St Mary's.

This leaves to only other real long term injury Matt Targett and he is still on the road to recovery, however with Sam McQueen emerging this is not as big a problem as o the other flank.

In the Liverpool camp there is good news if you are a Saints fan, Adam Lallana is likely to miss out after pulling up at Wembley midweek with a groin injury and there is also doubt over Phillipe Coutinho who has been to a private hospital on Merseyside for a scan on an undisclosed problem as well as his fellow Brazillian Firmino, these three are the creative heart of a resurgent Liverpool side and any news that they wil not be playing or at 100% has to be good for the St Mary's faithful.

Photo: Action Images

darthvader added 13:05 - Nov 18 Mane is the one player out of all of them I'd like to see sit this out . We all know how dangerous and direct he is . If he has a bad day or is kicked a bit early on we may have a chance of a result .I like to see him do well but not against us .
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Sanguin added 20:01 - Nov 18 I think Mane will struggle to play his best without the more creative players around him.
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aceofthebase added 08:15 - Nov 19 Last year we won but only just because we started with the wrong team. I hope we do not make the same mistake this year. Not a game for a lightweight.
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