Rodgers focuses on the solid but still has the spectacular too
Last season, there seemed to be an electricity to every Liverpool performance. With Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge sharing a glut of goals, Raheem Sterling rampaging past defenders and Steven Gerrard rolling back the years, it was an explosive unit.
But this term, the team and Brendan Rodgers has had to adapt. Seeing Suarez move to Spain was bad enough but to lose Sturridge for so long because of injury was a nightmare scenario especially because of the minimal impact made by Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli. Other new signings like Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren were finding it difficult to settle in to their new surrounds and each bad result and indifferent performance was heavily scrutinised.
But, Liverpool have stood firm, dug in and are reaping the rewards of playing a different way. The formation has changed and summer signings have begun to find an identity in the team. It may not be too pretty but it’s effective and since that 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in December, Rodgers has overseen a renaissance. He’s stumbled upon a decent back-three, there’s a solidity to the midfield while the goals aren’t exactly flowing like last season but they haven’t dried up either.
But despite the focus on keeping things tight, the team still possesses some game-winners, creative and exciting individuals capable of magic. Philippe Coutinho has had an encouraging season and has been afforded plenty of freedom. Rodgers is a big fan, safe in the knowledge that the Brazilian has what it takes to conjure something special.
Today, he came up trumps.
Kevin Friend’s performance
The referee was thrust into the spotlight after only a few seconds of the clash when Filip Djuricic tumbled in the area after a coming-together with Emre Can. It wasn’t a penalty but the tone was set and Friend subsequently played a defining role in proceedings at St. Mary’s.
Minutes later, Djuricic went down in the area again when Joe Allen challenged but Friend refused to point to the spot once more. However, the referee erred and Liverpool got lucky.
Arguably the most controversial moment came late in the opening period when Lovren lost the run of Elijero Elia and the Dutchman tried to lift the ball over the advancing Simon Mignolet. The Belgian goalkeeper appeared to be outside the area when he seemingly blocked the ball with his hand.
Friend was chasing the play and wasn’t helped by his linesman who was behind the ball too. It meant neither could definitively say whether Mignolet was outside the area and they couldn’t do much with the incident as a result. In hindsight, with the added bonus of replays, Mignolet was extremely fortunate. He charged from his line, raised his hands above his head in anticipation of the attempted lob and moved his left arm towards the ball as it deflected off his chest.
Yet, referees need to be 100% sure of any decision and generally speaking, when the hand-ball is freeze-framed, it’s a tight call, especially considering the officials are a long way from it.
Friend also denied Liverpool a penalty in the first half when Sterling was brought down by Jose Fonte. But despite the defender diving in recklessly to challenge, he had the wherewithal to flick the ball away with his left foot as he slid across, just prior to making contact with the attacker. It was quick thinking on his part. If he hadn’t touched the ball to safety, it was a certain penalty.
Saints turning to sinners
Southampton weren’t bad. They kept the ball well, their passing was crisp and they didn’t give much away. Fraser Forster didn’t have a save to make and the likes of Fonte and Yoshida were impressive. But, they struggled in the final third.
Where Liverpool had Coutinho’s inspiration after 3 minutes to give them the lead, Ronald Koeman’s side were crying out for a play-maker in the same guise. Or a tricky, pacy winger. Or an imposing centre-forward who could run the channels and dove-tail neatly with the support players. Instead, they found it immensely difficult to get beyond Liverpool and find decent positions in and around the area.
Their best chances came from long, diagonal passes but after the break, Liverpool tweaked things and were tighter, more compact with Elia wrapped up completely, unable to get in behind as he did to Lovren in the first half while Djuricic was well policed as the game went on, after he tore Liverpool to pieces in the opening few minutes. Sadio Mané brought a spark when introduced on the right side and gave Moreno and Can something to think about but that was it. Pelle didn’t cause any problems while Dusan Tadic, who came in in the second half, and who has also rapidly faded after such a bright start to the season, was ineffective too.
At times, Southampton seemed reminiscent of Manchester United under Louis van Gaal – quite comfortable in possession, plenty of short passes but a lack of combination and invention around the penalty area. In United’s case, they have an embarrassment of creative players so perhaps the limitations of this Southampton side are finally showing up.
It’s critical they hang on in the battle for Champions League football next season. But they’ve now scored just once in their last four games and now is not the time for the goals to start drying up.
