Southampton manager Russell Martin has confirmed he'll be without Aaron Ramsdale and Jan Bednarek for the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool - a team he described as the "best in the country on current form".
The Saints are propping up the table after winning just one of their first 11 games back in the top flight, scoring seven goals in the process and conceding 21. That solitary win came at St Mary's courtesy of a 1-0 win over Everton, but that important result was undone by a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Wolves seven days later.
And ahead of the visit of Liverpool, who are five points clear at the top of the table, Martin confirmed setbacks for two players who have featured regularly so far this season.
"Aaron [Ramsdale] has had an operation on his finger, he'll hopefully be back this side of Christmas," Martin said. "Janny B, we spoke really quickly after the game. He was really worried about his knee injury. Thankfully the injury is not as significant as we fear, hopefully a week or two before Aaron.
"Theyve been two of our best players all season. Of course it will affect the team and how it looks but others need to step in and take their opportunity."
Martin also praised the work done by Arne Slot since he took over at Liverpool, suggesting the Dutchman's decision not to tinker too much with the things Jurgen Klopp had instilled over the previous eight-and-a-half-years was key to their early season form.
"When you go into a club that's built on something for so long with top players that have bought into that, he hasn't changed too much," Martin said. "It's the best management at that point to continue some of the brilliant things they were good at, and put his own spin on it, which he has done."
He added that the Reds are "the best team in the country at the moment on current form" - a statement seemingly backed up by their record of 15 wins from 17 matches across all competitions.
Liverpool have a number of injury concerns of their own heading into the game, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson and Diogo Jota among those who will miss out. But former Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk should be fit to face his old club despite returning home from international duty early.
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