Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)
Pre-match Thoughts:
So, this is our third League Cup semifinal in a
row. In the first we fell to Mourinho’s Chelsea on away goals. Last year we
squeaked through on penalties against Stoke before eventually falling to Manchester
City in the final. This year? Only time will tell. Daniel Sturridge leads the
line.
Southampton nearly find a way through on their
first attack of the game, despite Liverpool dominating the possession in the early
stages.
A quarter of an hour gone and Sturridge produces
the first shot on target of the night. The shot was the result of some great
pressing by Adam Lallana, but it was weak and straight at the ‘keeper.
Dejan Lovren just got away with his impression of
Skrtel pulling in the box on a free kick. If Yoshida goes down there it’s a
definite penalty. Clueless !!!
Liverpool are, by and large, dominating possession
this half. But when Southampton counter, they’ve looked extremely dangerous.
It’s easy to over-commit when down a goal, but the Reds will need to keep their
concentration defensively in order to stay in this one.
Big chance for Southampton, as the visitors spring
yet another dangerous counter. Thankfully Karius was quick off his line, and
able to smoother Tadic’s chance.
And yet another big chance for the
Saints on yet another counter attack! This time Steven Davis
found himself free in the box, but sent his first-time shout deep into the Kop,
and the crisis is averted for now.
Halftime Thoughts: To the shock of absolutely no one,
Liverpool are having trouble breaking down a deep-sitting defense, and also
struggling against the counter attack. Klopp’s men have over 70% possession,
but have only managed two shots on goal, both from outside the area, and both
straight at the ‘keeper. If Liverpool want to advance, they’ll have to do something
they haven’t managed in 225 minutes against Southampton this season: score a
damned goal.
Five minutes into the second half and Karius comes
up big, gathering up a very dangerous Southampton cross, and then springing a
dangerous counter for the Reds, eventually leading to a corner.
I literally don’t know how Emre Can didn’t score
there. His cannon of a shot, ricocheted of the ‘keeper and spun toward the
goal. Forster recovered just in the nick of time to claw the
ball off the line. Very unlucky.
Liverpool go close again, this time off a corner.
Sturridge very nearly wraps his foot around a volley, but sends the close range
effort over the bar.
Sturridge then sends another great chance over the
bar. The chance was the result of some incredible one-touch passing through the
Southampton defense, and a stretching Sturridge just couldn’t guide the final
ball home.
Seventy minutes gone, and panic has begun to set
in. The passing has become sloppy, and the Anfield crowd, who up to this point
has been great, is showing signs of nervousness.
And now Philippe Coutinho goes close. This time his
curling effort goes just wide of the far post, and the Reds go on searching for
an answer.
Divock Origi comes on for Can. Emre had a decent
game tonight, but he had to make way for the Belgian striker who should,
theoretically, be more of a goal scoring threat.
Georginio Wijnaldum comes on for Coutinho.
Now
would be a good time to score, Gini.
Sturridge should have earned extra time with a
great chance and also we had a late penalty appeal turned down when substitute
Divock Origi tumbled under Jack Stephens' challenge.
Goal. But
Southampton broke clear in the closing moments and Long finished convincingly
from Josh Sims' pass to send them into the their first final in this
competition since 1979, where they will meet either Manchester United or Hull
City - a feat achieved without conceding a goal.Southampton knocking us out of the
League Cup.
Final Whistle Thoughts: This is now
2 home losses in a row. Southampton are through to their first League Cup final since 1979, and
it’s well-deserved.
Their run through the competition has been impressive, and
their three clean sheets against Liverpool this season even more so. Now, do us
a favor, Saints, and beat the Mancs in the final.
Match facts
LIVERPOOL: Karius, Lovren, Milner, Coutinho (Wijnaldum, 87),
Firmino, Henderson (c), Sturridge, Lallana, Can (Origi, 78), Matip,
Alexander-Arnold
Subs not used: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Lucas, sWoodburn
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, Davis (c), Rodriguez
(Long, 45), Tadic, Romeu, Ward-Prowse (Ho, Bertrand, Redmond (Sims, 80),
Stephens
Subs not used: Clasie, Martina, Hojbjerg, McQueen, Lewis
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Goals: Long (90+1)
Attendance: 52,238
Man of the match - Trent
Alexander-Arnold - Constantly attacked
from the right. A crossing machine but youngster rarely found his target
We looked so
devastating earlier in the season, but now sides have worked us out if you sit
deep and frustrate us, then they become too frantic too early, and that affects
both their delivery – pumping too many hopeful crosses into the box – and
finishing, because they had so many chances. Our whole build up play is
too slow and predictable and until Klopp changes this we will continue to
struggle.
