For all the new blood on show in both teams tomorrow and all the attacking talent involved, the match is likely to be won in the centre of the park where both teams will rely on established players from last season. Steven Gerrard continues to be the axis around which Liverpool's tactics rotate, so Rodgers is going to need his captain to be in form if the club is going to challenge for the title again this year. The aging talisman performed consistently well last year dropped back into a deep lying playmaker role, but the slip up against Chelsea that may have cost his club the title may weigh heavily on Gerrard's mind as could a poor World Cup for the departing England captain. For Southampton, meanwhile, their key central midfield star Morgan Schneiderlin has been declared "not mentally or physically ready to play" as he tries to push for a move to Tottenham. In the absence of Schneiderlin, the pressure to control the midfield will likely fall on Victor Wanyama. The strong Kenyan arrived from Celtic a year ago for a hefty £12.5 million fee with high expectations. While he looked a solid defensive presence during his 23 Premier League appearances last year, Wanyama will need to step up the quality of his performances if he is to stamp his mark on the Liverpool game. Both teams are rebuilding, but it is Southampton that have the most pulling together to do. It will take a lot for them to defeat Liverpool tomorrow and winning these five battles is just the start of it.
