Southampton Prove Liverpool’s Top Four Ambition’s Are Way-off

This was a horrible performance.  Off the back of the 3-2 home victory over Spurs to say the performance was disappointing is an understatement.  Apart from a 10 minute period after halftime, we were never at the races delivering the worst performance of the season.

The 3-1 score line could easily have been doubled with Southampton having 9 attempts on goal in the first 25 minutes.  We could not compete with the vibrancy and verve of a home team who had a razor edge to its passing and movement giving Rodgers a dose of his own medicine and it was no surprise when they took the lead early on.  It was simple, yet we had no answer to Rodriguez heading down for Schneiderlin to steer home.

Southampton were so dominant that they were scything through our midfield and defence at will and Brad Jones pulled of some tremendous saves, especially two one on ones and a couple of sprawling dives.  Rodriguez hooked over from 8 yards when it seemed the ball was about to nestle in the back of the net.  Rickie Lambert, a lifelong Liverpool fan scored the second with a long-range free-kick taking a huge deflection off Daniel Sturridge.  It may have been a tad fortunate, but they so dominant it had to come.

Lambert adds Southampton's second

Liverpool were lifeless. Jamie Carragher provides leadership to the backline, even if it hasn’t been the most secure, but it was apparent from early on we were struggling and coherency right through the team was non-existent. 

Joe Allen, who has been under the utmost scrutiny recently, was woeful.  Brendan Rodgers has to take the blame for this as he has been particularly vocal recently about Allen needing a shoulder operation which is impeding his play, so with Henderson, Lucas and Shelvey in the Liverpool squad he chose to go with a player lacking in confidence and not fully fit.  Allen, was not alone, the Liverpool captain was far from his best, although a couple of searing runs were not utilised by Coutinho to the disappointment of his captain.

Spirits were lifted when Coutinho scored after a goal mouth scramble just before half-time.  The young Brazilian rectified his earlier miss when put through by Johnson, his shot well saved by Southampton keeper Boruc.

Liverpool started the second-half well, but couldn’t create any real clear cut chances apart from a scuffed Sturridge shot.  His striking partner Suarez was increasingly frustrated by the lack of chances and Rodgers lack of urgency to change the formation or the personnel, apart from Allen for Lucas in the half-time break was disappointing.  Southampton finally, hit their straps again in the second-half and began to dominate possession and finally put us out of our misery late on.

The goal when it game epitomised Liverpool’s play.  Rodriguez picked the ball just inside the Liverpool half and ran unopposed past the labouring Lucas and Skrtel retreating.  It was a lame end to an utterly rudderless display and proved we are someway short of the top four and drastic action needs to be taken in the summer.

Kop Post Man of The Match:  Brad Jones – Pulled off two brilliant saves faced one on one with strikers bearing down on him and with very little defensive help in front of him punched and caught to good effect.  The Australian pulled of a couple of excellent diving saves and was left with very little chance on any of the goals.

Critical Eye:  We were lucky to get away with the Spurs result being totally dominated in long parts of the match especially in midfield.  Brendan Rodgers failed to heed the lessons and with Southampton still looking over their shoulders at relegation it was always going to be tough going.  Rodgers failed to ignite the apparent lethargy failing to arrest the situation until half-time. 

Joe Allen, whose confidence levels is now hurting his short passing game, could quite easily have been taken off someway before half-time looks a liability and now might be the best time for him to be booked in for his operation.

Stewart Downing was disappointing.  His performances have improved, but we need the creative part of his game to be upped to a level where he is creating as well as scoring.

The defence was woeful and chief among these was Skrtel who is another whose confidence levels seem to be hindering him reaching his rock like performances of last season.  Agger’s performances have gone under the radar recently, but I would say defensively, he has been found wanting, often found out of position.

The front two were starved of the quality ball and Suarez body language said it all.

Manager’s comments:  "It certainly wasn't how we have been playing in the past few weeks.

"We didn't get going until it was 2-0 down. We conceded poor goals which has been unlike us and we are disappointed at that.

"We never really got started. It certainly wasn't the level we have been at and it was one of those days for us."

Team: 1 Jones, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 37 Skrtel, 8 Gerrard, 10 Coutinho, 19 Downing, 24 Allen (Lucas 46 min), 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (Henderson 83 min)

Substitutes: 42 Gulasci, 47 Wisdom, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 33 Shelvey, 44 Ibe, Suso

Referee: Phil Dowd

Attendance: 32,070