Article by Jake Clay @JakeClay17
Liverpool take on Southampton at the weekend as the Reds look for an astonishing 13th straight home win this season. As much as Southampton has given Liverpool with the likes of Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk; Jurgen Klopp’s men have not been so kind the other hand as they haven’t suffered a Primer League defeat to the saints since 2016. There have been some enjoyable victories in recent years and here are some of the best.
Southampton 1-3 Liverpool 5th April 2019
One of the most iconic images of the 2018/2019 title race was Mo Salah standing and admiring an away end in raptures while Andy Robertson managed to perfectly time his jump over Salah and landing into Jordan Henderson arms.
In the running for the title, a Friday night away trip to Southampton would normally seem a daunting prospect but Liverpool’s incredible run of one league defeat in the 2018/2019 season made them clear favourites.
However, Southampton took an early lead after a cross deceived both Matip and Van Dijk to drop for Shane Long who knocked it past Allison. The reds looked sluggish early on as Southampton threatened on a few counter attacks but then Naby Keita scored his first and probably most important goal so far in his Liverpool career. Another assist for Trent came from his deep cross that flew towards Keita who leaped above everyone to head the ball past Angus Gunn.
As the second half dragged on so did the hope of a late winner for Liverpool until Southampton had a corner in the 80th minute. As Liverpool cleared their lines the ball fell to Mo Salah feet and he strived forward with one thing on his mind, to put his 9-game goal drought behind him. As he got closer to Southampton’s penalty area everyone was shouting for him to pass it to Roberto Firmino on his left, but the Egyptian saw a gap. He arrowed his effort into the far corner that led to the wild scenes of Liverpool fans believe a goal like that could decide the title race.
Henderson came on in a more advanced role after discussions earlier in the week with Jurgen Klopp about changing his position. He came on like a man possessed and wrapped up the game with a tap in from Firmino’s low cross. The knee slide and roar up to the sky released the frustration Henderson had and signalled a new lease of life as a number 8 rather than the holding midfielder. On a night where it looked all was lost ended with some of the most passionate celebrations you are likely to see.
Southampton 1-6 Liverpool 2015
It’s saddening to see how much more Daniel Sturridge could have given Liverpool if injuries had not restricted him, but when he was on the field he was electrifying. Saints away in the quarter finals of the League Cup during the early stages of Liverpool’s early reign saw the last of Daniel Sturridge’s flashes of brilliance and the beginning of another Liverpool cult hero.
Within sixty seconds it looked lost already, a certain Senegal winger playing for the saints back then, yes that one, put Ronald Koeman’s side 1-0 up in 37 seconds. Liverpool were under the cosh but then a moment of brilliance from Sturridge put Liverpool back on terms. Once he was found by an Joe Allen lofted ball his quick feet when one on one with Steven Caulker got him in the position to strike past Martin Stekelenburg. His second shortly after came after a brilliant over the top pass from Emre Can once again found Sturridge and the rest was a formality.
Sturridge was playing with a strike partner, Divork Origi who made his mark by scoring a hat-trick on the south coast as he got his foot on an Alberto Moreno shot which pretty much ended the game as a contest. Liverpool were not done with adding to their dominance as Origi doubled his tally after being found by Jordan Ibe he sent a driving effort into the roof of the net to highlight the attacking play Klopp brought to the table. Ibe then grabbed a goal for himself as the ball fell to him in the penalty area and made it five for Liverpool.
Origi claimed the match ball with a deft header from a superb Brad Smith cross that eluded everyone except for the Belgian striker who established himself as a key figure for Jurgen Klopp. Of course, he went on to score far more important goals for Liverpool, but everyone starts somewhere, and the young striker took his opportunity.
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Southampton 0-3 Liverpool 2014
Watching Liverpool’s front three is special but back in 2013/2014 their SAS referring to the strike force of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were spectacular on their day and nearly dragged Liverpool to their first Primer League. PFA player of 2013/2014 Luis Suarez was magical to watch as he played the game in his own way and was impossible to stop. The Uruguayan was certainly at his best at St Mary as Liverpool romped to a 3-0 win.
Suarez benefitted from the ball bouncing off Jose Fonte’s leg but showed his usual composure to put Liverpool 1-0 up, yet Southampton were unlucky they weren’t level before half time with Adam Lallana hitting the post and Jay Rodriguez being denied by Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool gained back control in the second half as a through ball by Steven Gerrard gave Suarez room to turn Dejan Lovren and set up Raheem Sterling for a simple tap in. From that point onwards the reds were destroying Southampton’s defence on the break with Daniel Sturridge going close on several occasion.
Over the top balls from Steven Gerrard were leaving Southampton two centre backs exposed and when Suarez stood Fonte up the Saints defender had no choice but to bring down the Liverpool striker. The resigned look on his face said it all, he had been given the run around by the best player in the league at the time.
Gerrard dispatched the penalty into the top corner which confirmed a statement of intent that Liverpool with the attacking talents they had could challenge for the league. The reds have a habit of making title statements on the south coast with 2014 being no different.
Liverpool 3-0 Southampton 2018
Liverpool enjoyed a 100% winning start to the 2018/2019 season and won their 7th consecutive game in all competitions against Southampton as Mark Hughes struggling side.
In terms of debuts Xherdan Shaqiri’s could have not been more unlucky than being denied his first goal for the reds on two separate occasions. As the Swiss international cut inside his cross deflected off Wesley Hoedt and ended up in the back of his own net. Liverpool increased their advantage after a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner was met by Joel Matip who was making his first Primer League game of the season and he direction his header into the top corner. Jurgen Klopp still cut across a frustrated figure as Southampton did have chances but in truth looked a toothless outfit.
The reds made sure of the win just before half time as Shaqiri’s free kick was so close to crossing the line but bounced up for the onrushing Mo Salah to get himself on the scoresheet. There were confusions amongst the celebrations who actually got the last touch on the ball, got a feeling most wanted Shaq to have it for his impressive performance.
Shaqiri showed a lot of promise in that first half of what he could offer Liverpool in an attacking sense as his energy and enthusiasm drove his side forward, yet he was hooked at half time. Rumours at the time suggested Klopp was not impressed with the Swiss international’s tactical discipline which left too much room in the middle of the park.
The second half was a low-key affair with Liverpool comfortable with what they had, and it was more of a case of damage limitation as it wasn’t Southampton attacks that were giving Liverpool anxiety attacks it was seeing Virgil Van Dijk struggling with injury. In fact, the colossal Dutch defender had to come off just before the hour as a precaution with Chelsea on the horizon.
Another comprehensive win showed the front three had a support acting in the shape of a small industrious man with the world biggest calves.
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool 2018
It was a recurring theme that every season Liverpool would arrive at St Marys with one they purchased from their so called ‘feeder club’ and the visit in early 2018 was no different, this time with big Virg. Surprising the world’s most expensive defender had not been in a Liverpool side that had won a Primer League fixture between when he arrived at Anfield and the visit to his old club. That all changed after six minutes.
On the counterattack a pass down the channel from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found Mo Salah who just simply flicked the ball into Roberto Firmino’s path which led to a drilled first-time finish to move him up to 20 goals for the season.
Considering it was the early days of Virgil Van Dijk the lack of penetration from Southampton as an attacking force was actually a surprise, but it was a sign of things to come from Liverpool’s record signing. Just before time Mo Salah scored his 29th goal of an outstanding season but the credit has to go to Firmino for a brilliant flick to put the Egyptian in.
The second half was about controlling the lead and knowing when to attack but not to the extent to risk letting their lead slip. A comfortable 2-0 win felt weird at the time but it was part of the foundation that have built this relentless consistency of top defending, controlling the tempo of the game and providing the platform for the front three to show off their talent.
When Southampton come on Saturday expect there to be goals as well as a warm reception for Danny Ings but the reds have business to do on the pitch as that title win is drawing ever closer and closer.
Article by Jake Clay – @JakeClay17
