Saints vs Redmen Review

Both the Saints and Redmen were in good league positions ahead of this game on Sunday, so it was unlikely that they were going to make many changes. For the Saints, only the one with Jose Fonte back from suspension and coming in for Matt Targett.

The Southampton manager, Ronald Koeman were adamant that his team take home the victory. As he said prior to the game “It’s a tough one, a huge game to play and also an important one”. “We knew our situation before the Stoke City game. It was a must-win game and I think the same is for this weekend, because we know the position in the table, we know the points and if we’re still fighting for Europe I think we have to win.”.

Meanwhile, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said in his press conference, “Hopefully we have a good squad, a good line-up for Southampton because it was intensive against Manchester United, so we’ll figure out who will be available, who is in the best shape and who can play the Southampton game.”

Which is why it was slightly unfortunate that the Redmen had to make three necessary changes with Jon Flanagan coming in for the suspended James Milner and Joe Allen for the not 100% fit Jordan Henderson. The other necessary change was Divock Origi, who came in for the injured Roberto Firmino.

During the first half, Liverpool were straight out of the blocks, like a Greyhound chasing a rabbit at the races, with both Phillipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge scoring within a five-minute period. Coutinho turned on his magic once again when he scored a long range effort from outside the penalty box to put the Redmen 1-0 up in the 17th minute. Then a few minutes later, Sturridge, ever the player for the big games and this were surely one of them, doubled the Redmen’s lead in the 22nd minute. He managed to curl one past two Southampton players and Fraser Forster, the Saints goalkeeper, to put them 2-0 up before the break.

But 2-0 really is the most dangerous lead to have as it didn’t take Southampton long before they were back in the game. With the introduction of Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mané after the start of the 2nd half, the game was completely turned on its head when Mané managed to pull one back in the 64th minute. Two further goals from the Saints came in the 83rd and 86th minutes when Graziano Pelle and Mané both scored.

This were the 2nd time since the start of this year, that the Redmen have been 2-0 up against Premier League opposition at half time and then thrown it away in the 2nd half to draw or lose the game. Which is why their hopes of a top-four Champions League spot have been dented with this dramatic victory by the Saints at St Mary’s.

Southampton remain 7th, 4 points off the top 4 with Liverpool 2 places lower and 7 points off the top 4.