Every word Southampton manager Martin said before Liverpool

How are Jan Bednarek and Aaron Ramsdale after picking up injuries? 

RM: They'll both be out for this weekend and a number of weeks. Aaron's had an operation on his finger so expect him to be back hopefully, this side of Christmas.

And Janny B is always the worry and the risk when they go away for an international break and one of the guys that you end up with has an injury.

We spoke very quickly after the game and Janny was really worried about his knee. Thankfully the scan showed it's not as significant as we might have feared.

He will be hopefully a week or two before Aaron but they'll miss this block of games and we'll do everything we can to get him back as quickly as possible.

It's a massive blow ahead of what is a busy period as they've been two of our best players. They've been two of our best players all season.

Since Aaron came in and Janny since we walked through the door really and I think the last couple of weeks Janny and Aaron had a big influence.

There's a big onus on them to start the way we play with the build-up and stuff. Of course, it's going to affect the team and how it looks.

Others have to step into their place and take the opportunity. I've been really happy with those guys and now they're going to be out of the team for a little while.

Are there any other injury updates? 

RM: I think Ryan Fraser's back properly now and Kamaldeen is back properly now. I think everything else is pretty much the same.

Was Taylor Harwood-Bellis goal one positive from the international break?

RM: I think we were all immensely proud of him at the club and really happy for him. When he came in last year he was disappointed not to be in the Premier League.

At that point, the aim was to get there together and to give him the best chance of achieving his dream of playing international football - to then make his debut.

And scoring his debut. It was incredible. So yeah, really pleased for him and his family. They're a great family. Hopefully, it'll be the first of many for Taylor.

He has had a lot of attention since scoring, does he take that in his stride?

RM: I think it's his private life and I think in football we often... It's very blurry, the line between private life and professional life.

I think if he does receive any stick or banter from the lads about it, he takes it really, really well. I think he's able to separate that. Everyone was so happy.

Have you spoken to PGMOL about VAR decisions at Wolves?

RM: As a club, we had a meeting with them with the owners involved as well, and the chief executive. I have to say, it's not an easy job for Howard Webb.

I think he does it well. I still have an issue with the goal and a foul in the second goal. I also have an issue with him coming out and saying it's the correct decision.

I think if we're going to improve the VAR and make it better, then we have to have real honesty and accountability.

For it to come out as a correct decision in the match review after is frustrating to me, but it is still subjective, right?

On the second goal they should take longer to analyse the foul from Craig Dawson, because it is a foul. They let us hear all of the audio and watch it again.

The first goal is open to interpretation, maybe. Ryan Manning's goal, I mean. But I still think it's the wrong decision because it's not clear and obvious.

I've been told a few times this season with a few decisions we have been on the wrong end of that it has to be a clear and obvious error.

I'm not sure it is for Ryan's goal so we're going to disagree on that forever. It's happened. It is what it is. As I said, Howard's not in an easy position.

I think if he really wants these guys to get better in the process, and we are getting better, then I'm sure they've had conversations about it.

He accepted a lot of our points, and we have to accept a lot of his because it's not easy. But I think it was important for us to have a chat.

I don't want to be out here moaning about decisions all the time. I don't think I've done that. I moaned after the game because I felt it was unjust and wrong.

I'd love it to go back to a bit of human error and balance it out. I think if you still make a mistake after the process of that, it becomes even more frustrating.

Are you excited about the upcoming schedule despite the tough fixtures to come?

RM: We showed the guys the Premier League table last season and how it looked at this point and how much it changed by the end of December.

Honestly, it's such an exciting month. People talk about the difficulty of the games and the level of competition we face in the next four or five games.

It's what we all work so hard for and we should be excited about the challenge. Teams have shown in recent weeks that you can pick up results against big teams.

We're going to have to at some point if we want to achieve what we want to. Our level of performance against the teams at the top of the table has been good.

We just need to take it a step further and pick up a result and I'm excited about Sunday. We're playing the best team in the country at the moment.

They have a new manager but built an incredible foundation from their previous manager. I'm really looking forward to it.

Liverpool have been the hardest one for teams to beat with 13 wins out of the last 14.

RM: We have started with reviewing our own performances over the last however many months and however many games.

Understanding what we've liked over the last few weeks has given us a platform to build on what we didn't like and what we need to be better at after Wolves.

It always starts with us and then, of course, we look at Liverpool and have a look at a few things that we can try and capitalise on.

We also need to understand their threats, which they have a lot of. We have prepared the same way we prepare for every game.

To try and be better than our last one and to prepare as best we can and find a way to stop the opposition and impose our own game as much as we can.

How well suited is that to getting a result against this Liverpool team?

RM: We'll find out on Sunday. I think we have real ways that if we stick to the game plan and stay brave and aggressive, then we have a chance against anyone.

What has Arne Slot done to give Liverpool that extra bit of pizzazz? 

RM: I think 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.

I think the best management at that point is to go in and continue some of the brilliant things they were good at, to put his own spin on it, which he has done.

There are certain patterns in the game and the way they build up now that are different to the previous manager, Jurgen Klopp.

That club's been built on what the fans expect is intensity, relentless running, the desire to press and hunt the ball. Of course, they're going to have that.

I think he's just built on that and put his own spin on it. And I think over time it will look different again, and they're a top team.

I'm sure it was a beautiful job to walk into when he looked at it. I'm sure he's liking the look of his team. Big credit to him, it's a good challenge for us.

What can a result in any of these big games do for your energy and season?

RM: It could change everything. Change energy, change how people feel about it and give the players big belief.

I don't think they're lacking in belief but I think when you win it gives a certain level of confidence. It gives you an extra spring in your step.

I think we'll just keep on course. We'll trust the work, trust each other. At some point, it will come. Then we need to use that to keep improving.

How are you maintaining the confidence and sharpness of your attackers?

RM: I think we've missed a lot of big chances. I think we're in the top 10 in the league for that. I don't think it's been that against Wolves.

But, yeah, we'll just have to keep on evidencing the good stuff. Understanding why we're doing certain things or why we need certain things.

At Wolves we just didn't respond very well to two disappointing moments, the decision and then conceding the second goal.

We didn't respond very well to that at all. And then we lost a bit of energy and aggression and desire to run, really, in the final third.

It was a bit safe, which you have to understand in the context of things, but we have to just be relentless with what we're demanding from them.

They have to be relentless with what they're demanding from each other. I'm pretty sure we'll see an improvement in that over the next few weeks.

Nine games in the next 35 days, do you like the schedule at this time of year?

RM:  I do. I love December. We had a brilliant December last year. I love the intensity of the games and the festive period, it's what we've all grown up with.

Watching games and being involved in it, it's a brilliant month to look forward to - an exciting one. The international breaks are done now, thank goodness.

We can try and get a bit of routine and rhythm and start building into something, hopefully, that will see us in a very different position at the end of the month.

Could you explain what Webb said about why VAR did not review the second Wolves goal?

RM: They were looking at the first foul on Mateus which is maybe not a foul, I agree with that, but I don't think they were even going to look until we complained.

The fourth official said that we were looking for a foul against Dawson on Cam Archer, but it's waved away really, really quickly.

For someone with that experience in the VAR room is a bit frustrating for us because I think it is a foul every time you see it when it's slowed down.

If the referee doesn't have VAR, I think he gives a foul anyway. But I think with VAR, they can maybe wait a bit longer and all that stuff.

Then you are reliant on it being watched back and I don't think there was enough time spent on it but Howard knows our feelings and I know his.

Alex McCarthy is a steady trainer, how does he step back into the Premier League fold?

RM: I'm excited for him. I have so much trust in Alex, we all do, and I really mean that. The guys see what a top goalkeeper is every day.

I'm comfortable with Alex going in. He's done a brilliant job for us whenever he's played. At the end of last season, maybe we're not here if he doesn't perform.

There was so much calmness and composure. If he came in a bit anxious or whatever, and what he'd have done to the team, but he was immense.

He's only not on the team because we had a goalkeeper who all of a sudden wanted to come here after a lot of work, and it didn't look achievable at one point.

I think Alex knows the quality of the goalkeeper we brought in and how difficult it's become for him but comes in with the complete trust of everyone.

He's a brilliant goalkeeper and a brilliant person, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he does.

Does Bednarek's absence change the way you look at the team?

RM: I think his influence is huge, especially in the build-up and stuff like that. I think we need to look at relationships, who have played together a lot.

It's something we spoke about a lot in this room with you guys, about relationships, how important that is when we play in this way.

I think we've had a look at a few options. The formation of the team is not the be-all and end-all for us something to get hung up on.

It's the concept of a team that can step into certain positions and play in certain ways with certain people on the pitch.

We've had a look at a lot of options. There are a few exciting ones and a few things I'd like to see a bit more and develop a bit further.

Sunday maybe is a chance for someone to come in and just be a straight swap or maybe a chance for us to have a little tweak and have a look at.

What are the major differences in how Liverpool plays under Slot from Klopp?

RM: I think they have a few different players in there. They have a few different patterns in the build and a different shape in the team.

They change in-game a little bit. They can tweak what they have and players. Hopefully, you'll be looking at us a bit as well, and not just focusing on Liverpool.

I think you'll see the style of the team and they can be a bit more patient in the build-up for sure. But they're still so dangerous when they play quickly.

How important is it to have Flynn Downes back? 

RM: He was a massive loss at Wolves. Everything we spoke about after the game, he would have added so much in stopping their transition with his athleticism.

The aggression he has when he runs relentlessly for the team and we just lacked a bit of that. So I think he was a big loss for us. It's nice to have him back.

And we need to manage him through this month because he's coming back from a little injury. So we'll have to see how we can utilise him best.