Brendan Rodgers prefers Joe Allen to Raheem Sterling in midfield for Liverpool's Premier League trip to Southampton, who welcome back Dejan Lovren in defence.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has recalled midfielder Joe Allen for their Premier League trip to Southampton this evening.

The Welsh international comes into the Reds XI at the expense of Raheem Sterling, who drops to the bench after a run of 15 consecutive top-flight starts.

Daniel Agger, who was withdrawn after 63 minutes of Liverpool's 4-3 win over Swansea City last weekend, retains his place in defence in what appears to be a 4-4-2 diamond Liverpool formation.

Southampton make one change as they welcome back Dejan Lovren at centre-back, with Maya Yoshida making way. England call-ups Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert all start.

The Saints have won their last three matches against Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium, but the Reds can climb to second in the table if they end that sequence with victory on the South Coast.

Southampton: Boruc; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Cork, Schneiderlin, Davis; Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert
Subs: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Yoshida, Ramírez, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher

Liverpool: Mignolet; Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson; Gerrard, Allen, Henderson; Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez
Subs: Jones, Toure, Cissokho, Moses, Aspas, Sterling, Teixeira

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