Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has suggested that his side's game against Liverpool this Sunday could be their biggest of the season.
The Frenchman believes that the fixture could be pivotal for both clubs' campaigns, despite Southampton's hot form that has seen them lose once in 23 games.
Both teams are vying for a Champions League place, with Ronald Koeman's Saints currently sitting in fourth, four points above Liverpool.
"It's a massive game. I always enjoy the games we play against Liverpool and we've had some joy against them in the last couple of years but, overall, Liverpool is a big team who is back on a winning way at the moment," the 25-year-old told Saints' official website.
"They're on a good run and it will be a very good game – maybe the most important game of the season for us.
"We want to keep this momentum because we know that big teams will always have good runs at the end of the season. They are teams who won't drop and who have a lot of experience about these kind of things."
Three former Southampton players will return to St Mary's for the first time this season as Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren will face their previous employers for Liverpool this weekend.