Liverpool face Southampton at home on Saturday as they look to consolidate their 19-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds have been in stunning form so far this term, as we are all well aware of by now. Of their 24 matches in the top flight, they have won 23 of them, and have already amassed a huge 70 points. It truly has been a dominant campaign, the likes of which we may never have seen before.
Against the Saints, they will be facing a side with which they have done regular business in the past. In the past six years, they have signed no less than six players from the south-coast side – five of which are still with the club. However, it is one outgoing transfer that could prove to be a thorn in their side this weekend.
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Danny Ings did not have the best time of it during his stay at Liverpool. Despite spending three years on Merseyside after signing in 2015, he made just 25 appearances for the Reds, managing four goals. That came after he ruptured his cruciate ligament within months of arriving, whilst he then had knee surgery during the 2016/17 campaign that saw him miss most of that campaign as well.
That led to him making a loan move to Southampton last season – with an obligation to buy for £20m – and he did relatively well at St Mary’s Stadium, scoring seven goals in 24 appearances during the previous term. However, it is this campaign where he has been particularly impressive.
It is hard to explain just how big of an impact the 27-year-old has had on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side. The 14 goals he has bagged have been bettered by just Jamie Vardy (17) and Sergio Aguero (16), and no player in the division has scored as a big percentage of his side’s goals as Ings (45%). The team as a whole have only scored 31 across the campaign – imagine where they would be without the former Burnley man.
Playing against Liverpool should be extra motivation for any player, but for one who had such a torrid time at Anfield, it could be extra-special for Ings. He will be out to prove his former team wrong for letting him go, and Jurgen Klopp will need to keep an eye on him. Give him chances, and he could be a huge threat to that unbeaten record.
Meanwhile, Liverpool must cut ties with this 22-year-old.