PL [A] v Southampton - the match

[Le Chef]

Bitter sweet after yesterday

[brightred]

Unfinished.

[brightred]

Unfinished.

That's a schu in man!

[baitman]

its our tempo, other teams cant handel it.

bach to the top of the league soon, shubertter believe it lad. ravelling in it.
best team in britten. ive got a liszt of these **** puns...

[Fosterbloke]

its our tempo, other teams cant handel it.

bach to the top of the league soon, shubertter believe it lad. ravelling in it.
best team in britten. ive got a liszt of these **** puns...

We love to score..

[Bender]

The reality is Southampton did not muster an attempt on target in a Premier League game for the first time since December 2004.

After the game at St Mary's Klopp delivered a rebuke to his players not for wasteful finishing but the sombre mood he detected. (Paul Joyce)

[Shaggy]

Paul Joyce's latest article in 'The Times' .


There is a tendency to view Liverpool’s results as either boom or bust. It has clearly infected those on the outside looking in but now, it seems, no one is immune.

When Jürgen Klopp entered the dressing room at St Mary’s after the final whistle, he delivered a rebuke to his players not for the wasteful finishing that led to this goalless stalemate but, rather, for the sombre mood he detected among those listening to his debrief.
Wasteful Liverpool held at St Mary’s

“We are disappointed,” the midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum said. “When you play a game like this and create a lot of chances you expect to score a goal. That didn’t happen. But the manager is a positive guy, a positive manager. He said, ‘You must not be negative about the game, we did a lot of good things.’ ”

By the time Nathaniel Clyne headed the umpteenth chance wide of Fraser Forster’s goal, the impression had long since formed that it was not to be Liverpool’s day. Conversely, here was a performance that should strengthen conviction that it could yet be their season.

This was not Klopp trying to boost his players’ fragile egos, rather applying a little perspective on a day Manchester City savoured success and reminding his side how close they had been to registering another victory.

It was the second time in little more than a month that Liverpool had failed to trouble the scorers in drawing and the second time their opponents have had to forgo any ambition of winning themselves to cling on to parity. Claude Puel, the Southampton manager, followed in José Mourinho’s and Manchester United’s footsteps, although his team were rather more gracious as to the visiting team’s qualities afterwards.

In particular, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the midfielder, was lavish in his praise, saying: “It’s not only that they move the ball quickly. They also have fast players, and with the ball they are very good one against one. I played in Germany against Bayern Munich and Dortmund, I played against Manchester City in the Champions League, but I must say this is maybe the best team I have ever played against.
Missing link
Liverpool are a much more effective side when Adam Lallana is playing

“It’s unbelievable how they move, how they stand, how they work together. It’s like a symphony.”

That Puel felt his side should not try to go toe-to-toe with their rivals demonstrates how Liverpool’s reputation precedes them these days. Whether that is a healthy respect or the reintroduction of a fear factor, both outlooks represent the surest sign that Klopp is making significant progress.

When Liverpool surrendered a 2-0 lead on the south coast last season, succumbing 3-2 to a Sadio Mané-inspired fightback, they unravelled alarmingly. Southampton enjoyed almost as much possession back in March and conjured 16 efforts on goal as they laid siege to a team with a soft underbelly.

However, Klopp did not have the impressive Joel Matip at centre back then. Liverpool’s domination could also be measured in how much of the ball they had — 65 per cent — and the reality that the hosts did not muster an attempt on target in a Premier League game for the first time since December 2004.

Charlie Austin spurned with their one opportunity, heading Cédric Soares’s cross wide, but that was a rare interlude when the focus had shifted from stifling players such as Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino by whatever means possible.

“We tried not to change our tactics, but we knew it was not going to be easy to play offensively,” said Oriel Romeu, the Southampton midfielder. “They are probably better players on the ball and at some point in the game you just have to accept that and take the result. Coutinho and Firmino need to be pressed. They cannot be allowed to feel comfortable. You have to be aggressive with them and try to put your foot in. We all tried to do that.

Even then, there was nothing like a total shutdown. Southampton goalkeeper Forster expertly repelled Mané’s curling strike, which the forward presumed would arrow into the top corner. Coutinho skewed a left-foot attempt wide with only Forster to beat and Firmino did likewise off his right.

In between, Virgil van Dijk — who played with such assuredness as to suggest he could be the target when Liverpool next plunder these parts — hauled back Firmino on the edge of the penalty area and was relieved that referee Mark Clattenburg was not in the mood to hand out punishments.

It felt telling that the most palatable chances were passed up by the two Brazilians, who had faced Argentina in Belo Horizonte and then Peru in Lima during the international break and had only arrived back on Merseyside on Thursday.

Telling, too, that Adam Lallana has not started either of the games against United and now his former club in which Liverpool have not scored. Klopp does not require any more hard proof as to why the midfielder is as important to him as he is becoming for England, but there was a certain energy, drive and creativity that was absent, especially in the first half.

Lallana will return, Coutinho will rediscover his shooting boots and Liverpool will have days when they play worse and win.
Ratings

Southampton (4-3-3): F Forster 7 — C Soares 7, J Fonte 7, V Van Dijk 8, R Bertrand 7 — P Højbjerg 6 (sub: H Reed, 79min), O Romeu 7, S Davis 7 — N Redmond 5, C Austin 5 (sub: J Rodriguez, 75), S Boufal 5 (sub: S Long, 67, 6). Substitutes not used: S Taylor, M Yoshida, J Clasie, C Martina. Booked: Soares.

Liverpool (4-3-3): L Karius 6 — N Clyne 6, J Matip 8, D Lovren 7, J Milner 7 — J Henderson 7, G Wijnaldum 6, E Can 6 (sub: D Sturridge, 78) — S Mané 6 (D Origi, 90), R Firmino 7, P Coutinho 7. Substitutes not used: S Mignolet, R Klavan, A Moreno, L Leiva, M Grujic. Booked: Coutinho.

Referee: M Clattenburg. Attendance: 31,848

[Phoenix07]

I know we've all got one eye on the title, but I'd still be over the moon with securing Champions League qualification, so the draw didn't really dampen my spirits, as we're developing nicely. It's always the international break that adds disruption, but we're absorbing Klopp's ideas nicely.

[dizzycat]

I know we've all got one eye on the title, but I'd still be over the moon with securing Champions League qualification, so the draw didn't really dampen my spirits, as we're developing nicely. It's always the international break that adds disruption, but we're absorbing Klopp's ideas nicely.

This

I'm just a bit peeved we didn't gain 2 more points on Utd...

[Kenneth]

I know we've all got one eye on the title, but I'd still be over the moon with securing Champions League qualification, so the draw didn't really dampen my spirits, as we're developing nicely. It's always the international break that adds disruption, but we're absorbing Klopp's ideas nicely.

As we sat top of the league my mind was focused on points and maintaining that challenge against Southampton, and dropping two points like that is little but disappointment. If we drop off a little and end up in a top four race then I'm sure I'll switch to being very pleased with our progress and attacking play

[Fosterbloke]

All teams will drop points, it's really nothing to be concerned about.

[labourRed]

Man City also drew with Southampton. They really are a solid team and their defence could be in any title winning team, although with Huth and Morgan perhaps that doesn't say much.

If we drop points against Sunderland then i'd have concerns over top four/title talk.

[redmike65]

This

I'm just a bit peeved we didn't gain 2 more points on Utd...

Over Utd Shirley?

Don't call him Shirley!

[BobTheCharmer]

With no Europe and the way we attack, I'd be dissapointed if we just got top 4. Means nowt. It has to be title challenge and bust. If we get second or third and give it a real go, fair enough. Plenty to be happy with. **** fourth. It's not a podium place in other sports. It's a consolation prize.

[Bender]

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