Liverpool vs Southampton a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
January 26, 2017
2,916 Views
- So The Saints go marching on
- Claude Puel leads his Southampton side to Wembley in his first season in charge at the club
- And on the balance of the two legs you have to say that it is fully deserved
- With only a slender 1-0 advantage going into last night’s return leg many wondered if they could withhold what Liverpool were to throw at them
- And they more than level to the threat that Liverpool posed
- A performance that was all the more admirable what with the absence of Virgil Van Dijk
- A patched up Southampon back line played as if it was an experienced unit and it was that confidence that allowed Southampton to surge forward
- The Saints had the best of the first half chances with Dusan Tadic foiled by an on rushing Loris Karius while Steven Davies blazed high and wide in front of The Kop
- Liverpool were restricted to long range efforts in the first half as Caniel Sturridge had another ineffectual night in front of goal
- As in the first leg, Sturridge’s attacking input was minimal and these two performances will raise questions over his long term future at the club
- With at least 45 minutes left in the tie there was still plenty of time for Liverpool to get thast all important goal
- And at one point they were literally inches away from doing so
- An Emre Can effort was first mishandled by Fraser Forster but thankfully he reacted quick enough to scoop the ball away from the goal line
- Liverpool plsayers and fans waited in anticipation for the Referre’s signal of a goal but it never came
- The goal line system ruling that it was no goal
- That said it was about as close as it could get, should the system not been in place then there is every chance we could have seen another ghost goal at Anfield
- A Liverpool without Sadio Mane is a different proposition and once again they lacked a plan b
- Still they poured forward in search of a goal to level the tie
- But Southampton were just about keeping them at bay
- Divock Origi was thrown on to give Liverpool an extra attacking presence but like Sturridge he was largely ineffectual
- He would be involved in the key moment of the game though
- With Jack Stephens looking to shepherd the ball out of the box, he made contact with Origi
- There were hearts in mouths as Origi tumbled to the ground but no penalty was given
- Southampton arguably got away with one there whilee Liverpool fans will have every right to feel aggrieved
- And there would be salt in the wounds just moments later
- With Liverpool throwing everyone forward, they left themselves vunerable and with one last attacking move breaking down that is exactly what happened
- Southampton picked up possession on the edge of their own area and tye fresh legs of substitute Josh Sims had the freedom of Anfield
- He drove the ball to the edge of the Liverpool box and laid an inch perfect ball into the path of Shane Long
- And Long did not need to think twice as he smashed the ball past Karius to put his side ahead on the night and secure a trip to Wembley
- Southampton will get the plaudits but now the post mortem begins for Liverpool
- Just 1 win in 7 and that was beating Plymouth in an F.A. Cup Replay
- It’s apparent they are missing Mane since he has departed for AFCON duty
- But it seems as if their high temlo start to the season is beginning to catch up with them
- And with Senegal advancing to the AFCON Quarter Finals they will have to make do without him for a while longer
- Should Klopp have added to the squad earlier in the transfer window and do Liverpool have the squad depth to really challenge for the title
- One thing is for certain though they are going to have to play a lot better when Chelsea come to town
- Defeat there and what title hopes they may have had will have all but evaporated
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