GRAEME SOUNESS returns to Anfield today for the first time since the end of his reign as Liverpool manager with a "this is the place to stand up and be counted" message to his Southampton side.

Souness knows just how intimidating a place Anfield can be to opposing teams from his distinguished playing career there and a more controversial spell as manager.

But he insists that Southampton desperate for points after collecting only two from the opening four games, will not be running scared of the daunting task facing them.

Nottingham Forest will he looking to register their first home win of the season when they take on Leicester City in the East Midlands local derby - but defender Colin Cooper, a veteran of many such clashes, is taking nothing for granted.

After the euphoria of the opening day 3-0 win at Coventry, Frank Clark's side have collected only one point from the next three games and surrendered a 2-0 advantage to Southampton at The Dell on Wednesday.

Cooper said: "Leicester have already shown they can play football since coming back up. I saw Emile Heskey score two goals against Southampton and have an exceptional game although I don't think they have won since then.

"But they will graft it out. I have played against Leicester on numerous occasions and they are always hard games with it being a local derby, the pride that is at stake, and you know they are going to have their lot.

Gary McAllister will go searching for his first win as Coventry City skipper in today's clash at Middlesbrough with the message: "We need to start picking up points."

Coventry City's manager, Ron Atkinson, has received the backing of chairman Bryan Richardson but the Sky Blues need to improve on a start of just one point from four games.

McAllister, who replaced Dion Dublin as captain for the mid week defeat by Liverpool, said: "We played well against Chelsea and against Liverpool but we had nothing to show for our efforts. It's crucial that we get something tangible in the bag.

Atkinson, who will be without suspended centre back Liam Daish, is hoping that tomorrow's game will be the turning point in reverse to what happened when they faced Bryan Robson's side at a similar stage last season.

Atkinson, who has the option of bringing in David Burrows or Paul Williams for Daish, said: "It is going to be tough and they will have a spring in their step after the win over West Ham in midweek. But last year things went a bit wrong after a defeat at Middlesbrough after we had made a decent start to the season.