Liverpool tore Southampton to shreds to roar into the semi-final for the second season succession. It was performance of style, panache, speed and power with Southampton, more than capable Premier League performers unable to live with a Liverpool side who away from home are a different entity than the side who sneaked home over the weekend against Swansea.
Daniel Sturridge led the line-up for the first time in the Klopp era sharing the forward duties with Divock Origi. Philippe Coutinho was again missing with a thigh strain. Randall replaced Clyne with Allen in for Milner.
Southampton started with a strong line-up and were quickly on the front foot going one-nil up in 41 seconds. Moving down the right, Emre Can sold himself in an attempt to block Ryan Bertrand cross. The ex-Chelsea defender sold a dummy before delivering a lovely cross which Mane creeping past Moreno headed in.
Moreno has form in that respect having suffered the same fate against Chelsea in not reacting to the approaching attacking force.
Southampton were pressing high giving Liverpool very little room to build from the back targeting young Connor Randall who was being left to his own devices with very little protection. Liverpool were struggling with Southampton’s ability in the air and Wanyama came close from a similar heading in to the arms of the Bogdan.
That said, Liverpool through Joe Allen were getting themselves back into the game and the Welsh International with a pinpoint through ball sent Origi only for the striker’s cut back to fall behind Sturridge looking for his hat-trick.
If Southampton didn’t think enough of Allen passing abilities they were soon made to pay. The midfielder on the run curled a lovely pass around the defender and into the path Sturridge who first touch took him wide of the goal. He then preceded to bamboozle Steven Caulker with his flashing feet before lashing in a drive into the bottom corner past Stekelenburg.
In that moment Sturridge showed just why Liverpool hanker for the the striker to stay fit because we know that if he does, he can be the difference.
Minutes later Liverpool the turnaround was complete in stunning fashion. Origi won the ball in the air from Bogdan’s long kick. Adam Lallana, booed harshly throughout, nipped in to pick up the loose ball before feeding Can whose reverse flick took him away from the challenge, before a hitting a sumptuous pass with the outside of his boot over the defender for Sturridge to sweep home on the half-volley right footed reminiscent to his finish for England in the World Cup.
Liverpool were now fully on top now with Lallana drifting more into the middle having more of a direct effect on the play and Allen covering out on the right to protect the inexperienced Randall.
Just before the interval Liverpool struck again in rapier fashion from a corner. Lallana’s corner drifted outside the box where it was met by the explosive connection of Moreno’s boot. As it sped toward goal Divock Origi in true goal poaching fashion deflected the shot past Stekelenburg. Liverpool almost grabbed a fourth as Origi’s excellent cross from the right was inches away from Adam Lallana’s diving header.
Southampton started the second-half obviously fired up by a Ronald Koeman salvo and although bright lacked the incision and the punch to cause Liverpool any undue worries.
The Southampton storm was blown out in no uncertain terms as Joe Allen, enjoying his best game of the season in a Liverpool shirt, found Ibe on the right before the winger cutting in fed an exquisite pass in to the stride pattern of Origi to smash home a crushing drive to leave Stekelenburg grasping at nothing.
Liverpool were buoyant and playing with confidence and the fifth goal was all that and more. Origi, now leading the line held the ball up before moving the ball out to the right before back heeling the ball down the line to send Moreno free. The left-back not known for his composure picked his head up for once to find Ibe on the edge area, who in turn majestically chested the ball past the defender before striking powerfully into the corner of the net in dismissive fashion.
Brad Smith on for Albert Moreno delivered a peach of cross for Origi to nod home to complete Southampton’s night of misery as Liverpool moved serenely on to a seventeenth semi-final in the competition.
Man of Match: Daniel Sturridge – Brilliant strikes to take the wind the wind out of the Southampton sails.
He brilliance is not overstated, his first two chances were taken in superb fashion and as is often said about him if he could only stay fit we would be a team to fear as he is a player with that X-factor which teams need to win trophies.
Oriji in support got better as the game went on holding the ball and linking the play and was involved in all five Liverpool goals scoring a well deserved hat-trick with three very different finishes.
Critical eye: A brilliant team performance although the first 25 minutes was very shaky especially in defence, but we showed character to come back and take the game away from a very good team.
Joe Allen was excellent with two brilliant passes one which provided an assist and Emre Can was an equal driving force and his pass for the second goal was all about skill and technique and he is flowering as footballer not stagnating in a defensive back three.
Alberto Moreno picked out Jordan Ibe in excellent fashion for the latter’s goal, but for the second game this season his concentration wavered at a critical moment which cost us a goal - he needs to tighten up.
Jordan Ibe’s superb pass for the Origi’s power finish and the way he took his own goal just hints at his immense talent.
Teams:
Southampton: 22 Stekelenburg, 2 Soares (Ward-Prowse – 63 min), 26 Caulker, 17 van Dijk, 21 Bertrand, 4 Clasie (Long – 63 mins), 12 Wanyama, 11 Tadic, 10 Mané, 8 Davis (Romeu – 77 mins), 19 Pellè
Subs: 3 Yoshida, 07 Long, 14 Romeu, 15 Martina, 16 Ward-Prowse, 20 Juanmi, 25 Gazzaniga
Liverpool: 34 Bogdan, 56 Randall, 37 Skrtel, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno (Smith – 77 mins), 23 Can, 21 Lucas, 20 Lallana, 24 Allen (Henderson – 74 mins), 15 Sturridge (Ibe – 59 mins), 27 Origi
Subs: 7 Milner, 9 Benteke, 11 Firmino, 14 Henderson, 22 Mignolet, 33 Ibe, 44 Smith
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 31, 592
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