Former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has issued a warning to the Reds, insisting Southampton are very dangerous from set-pieces ahead of the side's trip to the south coast.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will be eyeing leapfrogging current leaders Manchester City with a win over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League this evening.
The Reds are buoyed by their last-gasp win over Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday and will be desperate to maintain the pressure on Manchester City, with just six games remaining in the season.
However, the Saints have found some form in recent weeks under Ralph Hasenhuttl and Lambert, who played for both teams in his career, has issued a warning to Liverpool.
The former Liverpool star insisted that Southampton have now become excellent defensively under Hasenhuttl and stressed the visitors must be careful while defending set-pieces at St Mary’s Stadium.
“Normally the Southampton way, they like to keep the ball, but under Ralph, I think defensively they are excellent now”, Lambert told LFC TV's matchday preview show.
“They’re just as comfortable off the ball now than on the ball and they will be a lot harder to break down.
“They do go a little bit more direct than they used to and it’s the set-pieces, not just free-kicks around the box, but the corners as well.
“They’re very lethal at that aspect so Liverpool have to be very careful.”
Southampton were beaten 3-0 at Anfield in September, when the two sides met during the reverse fixture in the Premier League this term.
