Good afternoon all! Another weekend of Premier League football has rolled around, and right here we're focusing on Southampton's trip to league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.

Yes, you did read it correctly, Liverpool are still at the top of the table, and they can cement that place if they grab all three points off the Saints today. Despite their current form, it may not be the easiest of tasks as Southampton are the last side to defeat the Merseyside outfit.

Before we get onto my ramblings, let's go through the team news, which has just been released by both clubs.

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Toure, Sakho, Agger, Skrtel; Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard; Aspas, Moses, Sturridge

Bench: Jones, Kelly, Sterling, Enrique, Wisdom, Ibe, Alberto

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Lallana; Rodriguez, Lambert, Osvaldo

Bench: K. Davis, S. Davis, Ramírez, Ward-Prowse, Cork, Chambers, Hooiveld

There we have the teams, let's have a look at Liverpool's starting lineup first. The interesting news coming from this one is that Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel complete a back four comprising Daniel Agger and Mamadou Sakho. My thinking is that new boy Sakho will shift out to a full-back position, while Andre Wisdom has missed out following his performance against Swansea City on Monday.

It's good news for Liverpool that Agger has returned following his absence against Swansea. Sakho made his debut at the Liberty Stadium and on some occasions looked erratic in the back line, but it was his first match for the Reds, so it will be interesting to see how he fares this afternoon.

Liverpool were dealt a blow this week when Philippe Coutinho was ruled out until the end of October with a shoulder problem. Due to his absence, Iago Aspas has come into the fold, as well as deadline-day loan signing Victor Moses, both of whom will provide support to Daniel Sturridge, who has so far scored in every one of Liverpool's league fixtures.

Right, let's delve into Southampton's starting XI. There are no big headlines here as Mauricio Pochettino has opted for the same team that played out a goalless draw with West Ham United last weekend.

The good news for Saints fans is that Luke Shaw has been passed fit for the encounter. There were doubts over his involvement due to a foot injury, but he's come through a late fitness test to start.

Liverpool have an unbeaten record so far in the league, but Southampton have won four of their last six encounters with the Reds, and with Rickie Lambert heading to the home of the club he supports, the forward will probably be eager to get on the scoresheet.

Goals have been hard to come by for Southampton this season so far. They are yet to score from open play and in their last two matches they have failed to find the back of the net at all.

Despite Southampton's lack of goals, Pochettino said yesterday that he is not concerned just yet.

The Argentine told BBC Radio Solent: "I'm not worried about it. My main concern is that the team keeps growing and the players keep understanding each other."

Saying that, Pochettino was quoted earlier this week urging Lambert to improve in front of goal following his stints with England in their World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.

Pochettino said: "He has played the last two with the national side, which must be a huge boost for self-confidence, but strikers need to score goals."

We're just under half an hour away from kickoff, but Southampton got into Anfield early to post a photo of the ground before the crowds spilled in.

Taking 10 points from four games is a great start for Liverpool, and Southampton will be wary of Sturridge, who is in fine form heading into the match. As mentioned earlier, the striker has scored in every one of the Reds' league fixtures even though he has been struggling with injury. He even said that he wasn't fully fit during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Swansea.

Most predictions are tipping the scale in Liverpool's direction, but Southampton are the last side to beat the Merseyside outfit courtesy of a 3-1 win at St Mary's last season. However, at Anfield last season, Liverpool sneaked it with a 1-0 win. I imagine that there won't be too many goals in this game either.

Southampton's signing of Pablo Osvaldo was met with excitement from the fans, but so far, he's yet to set the world alight. Some have suggested that Pochettino should try a formation without the two up front, but he's kept them both together for this game.

I'm sure Southampton will be relieved not to see Luis Suarez lining up against them today. The controversial Uruguayan will serve the final of his 10-match ban today, but is expected to feature in Liverpool's League Cup clash against Manchester United in midweek. Suarez's return should also help with the absence of Coutinho.

The teams are now out onto the field with kickoff fast approaching!

GAME ON! Southampton get the first half underway, kicking from left to right.

As expected, Sakho has started at left-back for Liverpool. Southampton get the first effort of the game through Lallana, who tries a left-foot volley towards goal, but his shot goes flying over the bar.

Right at the other end, Henderson plays the ball out wide to Aspas, who swiftly passes into the middle of the box. Sturridge leaves it for Henderson, who takes a shot, but it goes straight into the hands of the keeper.

Liverpool have looked threatening on the break in these early stages, especially through Moses, who was just brought down by Clyne, who escaped a card from the referee. Poor decision from the match official in my view.

It's been a pacey start to the game at Anfield. Lambert gives the ball away to Lucas, who makes a quick pass down the side to Henderson, who drives forward and launches the ball into the box, but it gets cleared.

There's a lot of space in midfield once Southampton push bodies up, which allows Liverpool to counter quickly. Moses uses his pace to drive down the left-hand side, but the ball gets nicked away by Clyne.

Southampton go on the attack through Shaw, who pulls the ball back to Schneiderlin. He launches a diagonal ball into the box looking for the head of Lallana, but he fails to get enough on it to challenge Mignolet.

Oh dear, what was Mignolet doing there! The Liverpool keeper moves off his line to try and let the ball go behind the line for a goal kick, but he hesitates and manages to give away a throw-in, which comes to nothing for Southampton.

Some positive play from Southampton - Agger gives the ball away to Osvaldo, who finds Lambert. However, instead of using options on his right and left, the Liverpool-born striker goes for goal, but it's a poor effort and bounces wide.

Toure gets some space down the right and charges down the field towards the box but the Southampton defence do enough to stop him in his tracks. The ball falls to Gerrard, though, who finds Aspas. The Spaniard tries a back-flick, but he fails to find Sturridge.

Southampton are posing some questions of their own as we reach the 20-minute mark. Mignolet looks a bit shaky at the moment. The shot-stopper comes under pressure from Schneiderlin and loses the ball, but his Liverpool defence come to the rescue.

At the other end, Liverpool get a free kick in a dangerous area. Fonte brings down the Spaniard as he charges towards goal, and the Southampton man can have little complaints with that decision.

SAVE! What a fantastic save from Boruc! Gerrard blasts the ball towards the net with his right foot. Just as it looks to curl into the right-hand corner of the net, the Southampton keeper leaps just in time to prevent Liverpool taking the lead.

CHANCE! Lambert should have done a lot better there. Some lovely skill from Lallana ensures that he gets passed Henderson and crosses into the box. A flick from Toure causes Gerrard to make a poor attempt at a clearance. He completely misses it as it falls to Lambert, who shoots towards goal with a left-footed volley, but it falls into Mignolet's arms.

Some sloppy passing from Gerrard and Henderson allows Southampton to latch onto the ball. Clyne receives the ball out wide and launches it into the box, but Skrtel clears to give away a corner to the visitors, which comes to nothing.

It's a very open game at the moment, but apart from Gerrard's free kick, the home side have only been able to attack on the counter. Southampton won't be complaining.

PENALTY SHOUT! Boos ring around the ground from the Liverpool fans. Sturridge moves into the box and a poor challenge from Lovren sends the striker to the floor, but the referee waves away a claim for a penalty. Looking at the replays, it was the wrong decision from the match official.

Sturridge drops back to pick up the ball from Henderson. The England international manages to get away from Rodriguez and blasts a shot towards goal, but it sky-rockets.

SAVE! It's another important stop from Boruc. Moses manages to drive past three Southampton players on the left to unleash a shot at goal. He tries to dip it behind the keeper, but Boruc lifts his right arm up to knock the ball over the bar.

Liverpool are struggling to find some fluency in the closing stages of this half, but they try once again through Moses, who shrugs off Clyne to pass to Gerrard, who loses the ball to Lambert. He chases to get the ball back and does in fact, but as he lunges, Lambert goes down and receives a free kick.

The home side win the ball back with Toure charging down the right. He knocks the ball to Sturridge and continues his powerful run into the box. Sturridge finds Toure once again, but Southampton clear the danger before the defender can get a shot on goal.

A long ball into the box finds the head of Lambert, who knocks it down for Osvaldo, but the forward is too far in front of the ball to latch onto it, allowing Skrtel to clear.

Gerrard knocks the ball out wide to Sturridge on another counter-attack. The striker storms into the box beating his opponents, but as he heads towards goal, the ball is kicked out for a corner, which comes to nothing. Seconds later Gerrard swoops the ball back into the area to find the head of Sturridge, but it's a poor attempt to dip it into the back of the net and Southampton survive.

It's goalless after the first 45 minutes and arguably Pochettino will be the happier of the two managers. Liverpool have struggled to display their usual fluent passing, which could be down to the fact that Rodgers has opted for four centre-halves in the team.

It's difficult for the home side to get a rhythm of play when you're full-backs aren't pushing up the pitch, even though Toure has launched some powerful runs on occasion. This may be something that Rodgers will consider in the half-time break.

Southampton will be pleased with their performance in the opening half, but Lambert will feel that he should have put his side in front with a chance that fell to him just feet away from goal. The Saints have looked threatening, but that spark in the final third is missing at the moment.

The big talking point of the first half is the penalty that went missing. Sturridge was brought down by Lovren in the box, but the referee was having none of it. In the second half, Pochettino will want more of the same from his team as they've been able to stifle Liverpool and look threatening in attack.

For Liverpool, Rodgers may need to change the shape because they are missing that fluency without regular full-backs Johnson and Enrique. Throughout the season so far, Liverpool have been on the frontfoot in the opening half and scoring, while in the second 45 minutes they've sat back and held onto their lead. It will be interesting to see their approach in the second half.

The players are emerging out onto the field for the second half and it's an early substitution for Liverpool with Raheem Sterling replacing Iago Aspas.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Liverpool begin the half, kicking towards the Kop end.

Lambert knocks down a diagonal ball from Fonte to Rodriguez on the edge of the box, but as he tries to squeeze the ball into the near-post, Mignolet drops down to collect it.

Liverpool are under pressure in these early stages. Mignolet fails to clear the ball and Agger gives it away to Lallana, who launches a shot, but Mignolet manages to make the save. A shaky start from the home side.

Liverpool have a spell of possession down that left-hand side. Sturridge crosses the ball into the box, but Clyne clears as the crowd urge the home side to attack.

Henderson lofts the ball over the top to Toure out wide, who passes back to Gerrard, who in turn launches the ball towards Moses in the box, but the on-loan winger is flagged offside. More frustration for the home side.

Southampton have broken the deadlock! Liverpool give away a sloppy corner, which is taken by Lallana, who finds the head of Lovren. He knocks it back towards goal and Gerrard fails to clear it off the line and Southampton take the lead.

SUBSTITUTION As expected, Enrique is coming onto the field with Agger departing. You wonder why it's taken this long for Liverpool to make the change.

Liverpool try to respond through Henderson, but his shot gets blocked and falls to Enrique, but the Spaniard is unable to do anything with it.

The home side continue to probe and their efforts are rewarded with a free kick on the edge of the area as Moses is brought down by Fonte. Gerrard swoops the ball towards goal but Boruc parries the ball away.

At the other end, Sakho makes a well-timed tackle in the penalty box to bring down Osvaldo. It was a risky challenge, but he managed to get the ball and clear any threat.

Sterling brings the play out wide, but his cross into the box gets blocked by Shaw as Southampton continue to frustrate the home side.

Sterling gets pulled down by Lovren by the corner flag, resulting in a free kick for Liverpool, but Henderson's effort fails to get past Shaw.

TRIPLE SAVE! Liverpool can breathe a quick sigh of relief following some heroics from Mignolet. Shaw drives into the box directly towards the keeper, but his shot his blocked by Mignolet, who then knocks the ball to his right after it bounces off Sakho. Seconds later he jumps up to push the ball away from goal once again.

Liverpool are desperately trying to find the back of the net at the other end, but everything that they try at the moment isn't coming off. They have to be wary of Southampton, though, as they are still posing a threat on the break.

SUBSTITUTION Liverpool make their second change with Skrtel making way for Alberto. Southampton have also taken Lambert off, with Davies heading onto the field.

Sturridge tries to clip the ball over the top trying to find one of his teammates, but the ball drifts over all of their heads and behind the line. Sums up Liverpool's day.

SUBSTITUTION Southampton skipper Adam Lallana has come off the pitch for James Ward-Prowse as the away side try to hold onto their lead for the final quarter of an hour.

Liverpool are in possession again, trying an effort through Enrique down the left, but his cross into the box is easily cleared by Fox.

A selfish effort from Sturridge there, as he finds some space in the box, but instead of using the options in the middle, he goes for goal and it drifts high over the bar.

At the other end, Osvaldo receives the ball in the box and sets up a hot, but Toure manages to block his effort and stop Liverpool from going 2-0 down.

BOOKING! Southampton are on the end of the first yellow card of the game, and it's Nathaniel Clyne, who goes into the book for time wasting.

Liverpool's passing has been below par today and they have been losing the ball on a number of occasions, with Enrique being a regular offender.

The fans are growing more frustrated as Alberto tries to feed in Gerrard, but gives it back to Southampton, who are just trying to keep the ball as the clock ticks down.

Apologies everyone, we had a few technical issues, but we're back with you. It's full-time at Anfield and Liverpool have suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Southampton, whose arguably deserved maximum points today.

Liverpool remain top of the table for now, but Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are yet to play, while Southampton have moved up to fifth with their victory this afternoon. Thank you for joining me and stick around on Sports Mole for all the latest results and reaction.