Liverpool 2 Southampton 1: Koeman’s newbies worry Rodgers
Article by e-Southampton's Sam WilkesClick here to follow e-Southampton on Twitter for the latest Saints news!
Southampton lost their first game of the Premier League season but can be encouraged by the performance.
A first half breakaway goal from Raheem Sterling was cancelled out in emphatic style after the break by Nathaniel Clyne after clever link-up with Dusan Tadic only for Daniel Sturridge to pop up and steal all three points with 10 minutes to go.
Ronald Koeman gave league starts to Fraser Forster, Ryan Bertrand, Tadic and Graziano Pelle against a Liverpool team featuring former Saint Dejan Lovren. Rickie Lambert started on the bench.
The new manager also welcomed back Morgan Schneiderlin after his public bust-up with Ralph Krueger and protracted transfer negotiations threatened to cause a more permanent issue.
Saints more than held their own in the opening exchanges but fell behind after Jordan Henderson dispossessed Schneiderlin. His 30 yard ball found Sterling running at pace into the large gap between Jose Fonte and Clyne before finishing low to Forster’s left.
There were signs of the pre-Lovren defensive weaknesses as Maya Yoshida looked tentative in possession and distribution. Koeman will be hoping that new signing Florin Gardos will be ready sooner than later.
Pelle struggled on his own up front against Lovren and Martin Skrtel but Ryan Bertrand and Tadic looked lively on the left hand side without creating any real chances.
Liverpool were restricted to hopeful long-range strikes as Forster enjoyed a comfortable introduction to the Premier League.
Despite being “the feeder team”(trademark Paddy Power), Southampton continued to look better than their hosts on the ball and continued to dominate possession throughout the rest of the first half.
The dominance was rewarded ten minutes into the 2nd half. Clyne played the ball into Tadic on the right-hand side of the “D”. The winger then backheeled the ball Lovren, back to Clyne who took a touch and smashed the ball high into Simon Mignolet’s net at his near post.
The away team continued to impress and should’ve taken the lead as James Ward-Prowse played in Steven Davis 12 yards out but he could only shoot tamely into Mignolet’s grateful arms.
A very quiet Anfield (take note Dejan) watched on and must’ve have wondered where a goal would come from without Suarez.
Unfortunately it came from a Southampton mistake as the defence failed to clear the ball allowing the diminutive Sterling to head the ball across goal for Sturridge to tap home.
Shane Long, on for Tadic, had a chance to claim a deserved point as Mignolet turned a Schneiderlin shot on to the bar which rebounded to the Irish international, only to head wide when it seemed much easier to score.
The game ended 2-1 but Southampton can be very pleased with the performance.
Despite the result, Koeman will have seen the potential his team showed and the effort they put in.
There was a definite change in philosophy from the previous regime as the high-pressing game was replaced by a more patient defensive style which although initially unnerving, looked well set up.
Shane Long on the right instead of Steven Davis will provide more support for Pelle and replacing Yoshida is a priority.
Apart from that, even the media seem to have realised that the stories of Saints summer demise were very much overstated.
Fans have a lot to be positive about heading into West Bromwich Albion at home next week.
Saint of the Day: Victor Wanyama – the big man broke up everything that got near him, dominated the Liverpool midfield and even seemed to have found his passing boots.
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