Sixty-five percent possession against
a side as strong as Southampton, is an excellent effort at any time, but there
were chances, clear cut chances to win the game convincingly.
Firmino and Coutinho both when through
on goal, toe poked wide and too slow in reacting respectively. Nathaniel Clyne joined the list of wastrels
after Sturridge making space served up a delicious chance on a plate only for
the England full-back to head wide of the far post.
Sadio Mane saw a curling effort saved
spectacularly by Forster in the first half after Wijnaldum found him with time
and space.
Liverpool should have had a penalty
when the impressive Virgil van Dijk pulled back Firmino who had finally got
goal side, only for referee Mark Clattenburg to wave play on.
Dominating for vast sections of first
half, we lacked fluency which has been the watch word of our play of late and
the intensity normally instigated by the charging Adam Lallana missing after
picking up an injury in the midweek friendly against Spain was also absent.
It was better in the second-half.
Better in the sense of more fluidity allied to the alacrity provided by
Coutinho playing in a more central role having been starved of quality
possession, with Southampton not giving the habitually domineering front three
any time and space to thrive in.
Three missed chances came and went in the
second-half, but with Man United and Arsenal having drawn earlier the chance to
pull a further two points away went begging and with Southampton able to throw
a blanket over the front three it was disappointing not to see Klopp not change the
dynamic earlier by throwing on Sturridge and Origi for a final onslaught.
Adam Lalllana in such sparkling form
was a big miss, not so much for his pressing as WijnaldumWijnaldum provided vital drive from midfield and tenacity
in the tackle. But, as he showed for the
short time he was on the pitch against Spain, his invention and goal
scoring allied to the front three is part of the dynamism which is difficult to
replace.
It’s difficult to see how Origi can impact the game coming on in the ninety-first minute and
Sturridge with 12 minutes to go with Southampton defence well entrenched in a
defensive mind set.
The pressing quicksilver interplay which
has seen Liverpool flourish has one draw-back, none of Klopp’s perceived first
eleven is an instinctive finisher. It’s fine
when we are winning and demolishing teams, but I do think when it’s not working
we need to adapt by switching formation with those already on the pitch which he tried
to do in the second-half or by bringing on those on the bench early enough to
make it a difference.
It could have been better, but as I
write with Chelsea still to play we are still top of the League and with a home
fixture next up, hopefully normal service will be resumed.
Man of the match: Georginio Wijnaldum – Replaced Lallana in
the starting line-up provided energy and made an excellent chance for
Mane. Noticeable how he thrived in the
thick of the battle in central areas.
Lallana’s inventiveness was sorely
missed and moreover his decision making and leadership.
Has become a key component of Klopp’s
team and arguably the main protagonist in applying his mentor’s thoughts on the
pitch, but with or without him we dominated the match against a tough opponent away
from home. We should have won, but as
important is we didn’t lose, keeping a clean sheet which is a boost to the confidence.
Teams:
Southampton:
1 Forster, 2 Soares, 6 Fonte, 17 van Dijk, 21 Bertrand, 23 Højbjerg (Sub Reed –
78 mins), 14 Romeu, 8 Davis, 22 Redmond, 10 Austin (Rodiguez – 75 mins), 19 Boufal
(Long – 66 mins)
Substitutes:
3 Yoshida, 4 Clasie, 7 Long, 9
Rodriguez, 15 Martina, 18 Reed, 28 Taylor
Liverpool:
1 Karius, 2 Clyne, 32, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson, 23 Can
(Sturridge – 78 mins), 19 Mané (Origi – 90+1), 11 Firmino, 10 Coutino
Substitutes:
15 Sturridge, 16 Grujic, 17 Klavan, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 22, Mignolet, 27 Origi
Referee:
Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 31,848
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