[lfc-news] Liverpool v Southampton team news - PA

PA Sport, 27 Dec 2004
REDKNAPP FACING BEATTIE POSER

Southampton boss Harry Redknapp must decide whether striker James
Beattie has played his last game for the club or faces Liverpool at
Anfield on Tuesday.

Redknapp looks resigned to sacrificing his ace marksman to raise cash
for new signings to boost relegation-threatened Saints, and Newcastle,
Aston Villa and Everton are said to be leading the chase.

Meanwhile, another striker, Peter Crouch, could be axed to give
Southampton more strength in midfield with Anders Svensson taking his place.

Matt Oakley is set to start again in his second match since a knee
operation 16 months ago.

Jason Dodd and Mikael Nilsson are struggling for fitness and youngster
Martin Cranie may figure again at right back.

Liverpool expect to have Harry Kewell and Neil Mellor back in their squad.

The pair missed the 5-0 win at West Brom with a groin strain and
tonsilitis respectively, while both Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia were
initially on the bench. The Spanish pair are also likely to start the
match as boss Rafael Benitez maintains his rotation of midfield players.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could also return to the squad now he is in
full training again following a back problem.

Teams

Liverpool (from): Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Traore, Luis
Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann, Kewell, Nunez, Mellor, Baros,
Sinama-Pongolle, Kirkland, Harrison, Diao, Warnock.

Southampton (from): Niemi; Dodd, Nilsson, Cranie, Lundekvam, Jakobsson,
Higginbotham, Fernandes, Delap, Oakley, Prutton, A Svensson, Phillips,
Beattie, Telfer, Ormerod, Griffit, Blackstock, Tessem, Smith (gk).