Southampton fans bemused by Puel’s team selection for Liverpool clash

Southampton travel to Liverpool this afternoon (1.30pm kick-off) hoping to return to the top half of the Premier League table.

Claude Puel’s men slipped to 12th following wins for Leicester and West Ham, as well as a draw for Bournemouth, over the weekend, but the Saints know that three points at Anfield today will see them move back up to ninth.

However, it won’t be easy against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, who themselves also slipped down the table on Saturday as Manchester City overtook them in third with a 5-0 thumping of Crystal Palace.

Liverpool also know that victory would strengthen their grip on a top four place, and it’s fair to say that Southampton fans aren’t hugely confident following the announcing of the team news earlier on.

Nathan Redmond is dropped to the bench in favour of England teammate James Ward-Prowse, while the likes of Dusan Tadic, Sofiane Boufal, and Manolo Gabbiadini will spearhead the Saints attack.

And Puel’s decision to drop Redmond, as well as persist with Serbian international Tadic, has not gone done well with several Southampton supporters on Twitter…

@SouthamptonFC Why is Tadic still being started?? He has played terribly for the past month or so!!

— Charlotte Owen (@CharlotteOwen6) May 7, 2017

@SouthamptonFC Tadic out

— Jack Horton (@Jackazz19) May 7, 2017

@SouthamptonFC redmond dropped again???

— Jozzy Nutman (@josephnutman24) May 7, 2017

@SouthamptonFC Tadic but not Redmond????

— a.d.z (@SFC_Adam_) May 7, 2017

@SouthamptonFC Benching Redmond is embarrassing. He’s our most creative player. And Tadić has been awful but he starts again. Very, very strange. #PuelOut

— Harry (@harryhsfc) May 7, 2017

@SouthamptonFC @premierleague why not start with Redmond

— Success wali (@walisuccess1) May 7, 2017