Abstract: The invention relates to a device for safely aligning the mouth of a sample container with the sample needle of a liquid sampling device. A guidance ring holds the mouth of the sample container in position under the sample needle. The sample container and guidance ring slide inside the sleeve guide to allow the mouth of the sample container to slide up the sleeve guide so that the sample needle can pierce the septum of the sample container. The sample needle is recessed in the sleeve guide so that the likelihood of needle sticks is greatly reduced.