DUSAN Tadic will wear a protective mask against Liverpool in order to maintain his ever present Premier League record.

The playmaker suffered a broken nose playing for Serbia against Wales in a World Cup qualifier at the weekend.

He received an accidental kick in the face from Neil Taylor, but after receiving treatment returned to complete the game with cotton wool buds stuffed up his nostrils.

Tadic, who has started all 11 of Saints' league games so far under Claude Puel, is happy to wear a mask against Jurgen Klopp's table-toppers at St Mary's this Saturday.

When asked if he will be fit for Liverpool's visit, Tadic said: "Serbia people are not soft. We will see. I can wear a mask.

I think I have broken my nose. At first I thought I could not see so many things but I couldn't leave my team-mates alone on the pitch and I wanted to play and this is important.

"Every player feels really important for the team. You cannot leave team-mates without you.

"I couldn't breathe or do anything and I lost a lot of blood.

"But that does not matter as when you play a game you want to fight for your country to try to give your best."

Tadic is one of six players to have started all Saints' Premier League games this season.

The others are Fraser Forster, Virgil Van Dijk, Steven Davis, Oriol Romeu and Nathan Redmond.

In addition, skipper Jose Fonte has started the last ten after missing the opening game against Watford through injury.