Good afternoon everybody, you’re very welcome along to our minute-by-minute coverage of today’s meeting of Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s.
Jurgen Klopp’s men picked up their first piece of silverware this season by beating Chelsea on penalties in the Uefa Super Cup midweek.
His side looked exhausted after 120 minutes in the baking Turkish heat and will hope to make a speedy recovery today to make it back-to-back wins on the domestic front.
Liverpool easily saw off Norwich City 4-1 at Anfield last Friday night to kick off their title chase in fine style.
On the other hand, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men got off to a horrible start last weekend, losing 3-0 away to Burnley at Turf Moor.
Stick with us, kick-off is coming up at 3pm.
Let’s get started with today’s team news…
So, today’s teams will line out as:
Southampton: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Valery, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand, Adams, Redmond.
Substitutes: Cedric, Ings, Djenepo, Armstrong, Obafemi, Danso, Forster.
Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wijnaldum, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Lonergan, Fabinho, Gomez, Henderson, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi.
"We tested it this morning. Yesterday it was already better but still swollen. Now it’s good, so obviously not that serious."
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2019
Klopp on @AdriSanMiguel's return 👊#SOULIV pic.twitter.com/WQKgujsQRZ
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KICK-OFF: We’re underway at St Mary’s for the first half!
Great run from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain through midfield sees the first chance fall Liverpool’s way. He lays possession off to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right who crosses into the box, but Jannik Vestergaard manages to hook the ball clear.
Lovely backheel from Sadio Mane lays the ball on a plate for James Milner. He gets the ball out of his feet and strikes on his right boot, but Milner’s effort is poorly hit and easily gathered by Angus Gunn.
Liverpool have started much the stronger inside the opening five minutes. Plenty of possession and Southampton aren’t really applying that high press which Ralph Hasenhuttl is so renowned for.
A third chance in a row for Klopp’s men. The ball is played out wide into space for James Milner to cross. He fizzes a low ball towards the front post, but it’s stabbed away for a corner kick. Alexander-Arnold takes command of the corner, but yet again it fails to beat the first man and is cleared.
A big, big let-off for Adrian in goals for Liverpool there. He receives a backpass from Virgil van Dijk and takes his time getting ready to hoof the ball clear. James Ward-Prowse closes the Spaniard down quickly, and Adrian breaths a sigh of relief as the ball bounces just wide. It easily could have been a goal.
Good run from Mohamed Salah behind enemy lines. He shows great awareness, backheeling the ball into the path of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who joined the attack. He takes the ball into the box and has a go, but his shot drags comfortably wide.
There’s a clash of heads between James Milner and James Ward-Prowse, meaning there will be a pause in play as both players receive medical attention. Milner’s head appears to be bleeding from the knock.
Play resumes and Liverpool will continue with 10 men as Milner goes off temporarily to receive some stitches. It was a nasty little knock both men took contesting a high ball in midfield.
A decent chance for Southampton. Nathan Redmond is picked out with a brilliant ball over the top from Oriol Romeu. Redmond dances in and out with some quick feet and eventually his cross is forced out for a corner by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Good break.
Hasenhuttl’s men have been on top these last few minutes as Liverpool continue with 10 men for now. They are making that extra man count, pressing Liverpool all over the pitch and flying forward to expose any space left behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
Poor communication between Adrian and Joel Matip sees the centre back head the ball back towards goal, but the goalkeeper had come too soon and it flies wide for a corner kick. Adrian makes amends, though, making a superb save at point-blank range to deny Maya Yoshida’s header.
James Milner has now returned to play with a big white bandage across his head. The momentum is still very much with Southampton as another poor Adrian clearance results in a corner for the hosts. The Saints crowd is definitely up for this.
Liverpool bite back down the other end. Trent Alexander-Arnold swings a pinpoint cross towards the back post where Roberto Firmino is completely untracked. The Brazilian strides to try and make contact, but the cross has too much whip on it and flies out for a goal kick.
Klopp’s side have managed to maintain a little bit more of a foothold on this game since Milner’s return to play. That said, good pressure all over the park is forcing Liverpool’s backline into some uncharacteristic mistakes. Southampton looking very promising out there.
Liverpool at sixes and sevens at the back. Nathan Redmond feeds Ryan Bertrand on the overlap. His cross is palmed clear by Adrian, but the ball only falls on a plate for Yann Valery. He French midfielder has a number of options, but opts for a shot on goal. He hits it poorly, though, and Adrian gathers. Chaos all over the shop.
Mohamed Salah with a corner, which is cleared into the path of Trent Alexander-Arnold. He floats another ball into the box aiming for the big presence of Virgil van Dijk, but Angus Gunn stays from his line and gathers possession.
Close! Salah peels away from his marker with a diagonal run into the box. The Egyptian slams a left-footed volley towards goal, but is flies just over the top of the crossbar. His shot had so much venom behind that, had it been on target, Gunn didn’t stand a chance.
There’s a yellow card for Oriol Romeu. He slides in low on Andy Robertson and appears to win the ball, but referee Andre Marriner says there was a bit too much recklessness in the challenge and the midfielder finds himself in the book.
Close! A massive chance for Southampton is passed up by Che Adams. He is picked out thanks to a superb ball over the top from Oriol Romeu, but Adams slams his shot over the top of the crossbar. He really should have tested Adrian there and hit the target.
Liverpool really being pushed back here. Yet again Ryan Bertrand finds time and space down the left wing, but the linesman raises his flag for offside. Hasenhuttl’s men have had the better of it in the first half, it has to be said.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 0-1 LIVERPOOL (MANE 46)
Liverpool take the lead! It’s a sublime finish from Sadio Mane in the first minute of stoppage time to put the Reds 1-0 ahead just before half-time. He cuts inside on the left wing and smashes a stunning effort beyond the fingertips of Gunn.
What a finish from Mane. Southampton have been on top for so much of this first half, but one moment of quality shows the gap between these sides. It’s Mane’s first Premier League goal this season and it comes against his former club.
HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-1 LIVERPOOL
HALF TIME: #SaintsFC 0-1 #LFC
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 17, 2019
Mané's effort right at the end of the first-half is the difference at the break. pic.twitter.com/h6Qn0P9loz
SECOND HALF: We’re back underway for another 45 minutes!
Liverpool trying to pick up where they left off at the end of the first half with that late Mane goal. Andy Robertson flies forward down the left wing and wins a throw-in. No changes from either side at the break.
Free-kick for Liverpool in a dangerous area. Joel Matip collides into Oriol Romeu on the edge of the box and this will be within shooting range for either Mohamed Salah or Trent Alexander-Arnold. Romeu needs to be careful as he is already on a yellow card.
The free comes to nothing as Salah smashes his shot against the wall. Alexander-Arnold fizzes the rebound back into the box looking for the run of Bobby Firmino, but Maya Yoshida gets there first and puts the ball out for a corner.
The European champions have been so much better since the interval. Southampton have hardly broken out of their own half so far. It’s just wave after wave of attacks from the visitors and another goal is looming large.
The hosts finally break free and carve out a chance. Nathan Redmond cuts inside with some clever dribbling and offloads to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg beside him. The Danish international smacks a decent effort which comes away for a corner kick.
Close! Angus Gunn breaths a massive sigh of relief. The ball fell invitingly for James Milner to strike and he very nearly crept a right-footed effort into the bottom corner. Gunn didn’t have his angles covered there and looked hugely relieved to see the ball fly the other side of the post.
Another big chance for Liverpool goes begging. Mane slips in Salah clean through with a clever pass. The Egyptian is one on one with goalkeeper Gunn, but he makes a brilliant low save to keep it at 1-0. You really would have expected Salah to finish that. An uncharacteristic miss right in front of goal.
An excellent passage of plays sees Liverpool rack up pass after pass after pass. The ball is eventually crossed deep from one fullback to another, Trent Alexander-Arnold looking for Andy Robertson at the back post, but Jan Bednarek recovers to head clear.
Close again! Almost 2-0 following a superb piece of attacking play. Sadio Mane is played in behind enemy lines, he crosses first-time into the box towards Roberto Firmino, but the Brazilian’s shot flies wide. Liverpool completely on top now.
Danny Ings comes agonisingly close to a stunning equaliser. He sends James Milner to the shops with a brilliant dummy, then fires a powerful strike flying towards the top corner. It probably had the beating of Adrian, but Ing’s effort goes over the bar. Inches away.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 71)
Liverpool double their lead with just under 20 minutes remaining at St Mary’s. Some good work from Sadio Mane sees him rob possession and find Roberto Firmino. He dribbles past one challenge and the another, before firing the ball into Gunn’s bottom corner. Precise finish.
Firmino has had very little impact on this game, truth be told, enduring an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon. But in one moment he springs to life and shows the devastating quality he can provide with the ball at his feet. The three points looks in the bag now baring a late miracle from Hasenhuttl’s men.
Sadio Mane almost grabs his second of the afternoon. He pops up at the back post completely unmarked and untracked, but Angus Gunn does really well to cover the space and make an important save.
They’re all queuing up for a go at goal now. Andy Robertson the latest to try his luck, but his left-footed strike can only smash the side-netting. Liverpool really are in complete control now. A totally different side compared to that jittering opening 45 minutes earlier on.
Nearly an own goal from Joel Matip suddenly. The centre back tried to intercept a cross into the box but could only divert the ball towards his own goal. Adrian dived across athletically and did really well to put the ball wide for a corner kick.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL (INGS 83)
Southampton pull one back and it’s an absolute howler from Adrian. Goodness gracious, that is just astonishing. Virgil van Dijk plays a routine pass back to the goalkeeper, Danny Ings closes him down and the goalkeeper’s clearance bounces off the striker’s foot and into the back of the net. Incredible.
That was so, so poor from Adrian. A similar incident did happen in the first half when James Ward-Prowse closed the goalkeeper down. Adrian got away with it then, but he doesn’t get away with it now. Karius-esque mistake from the Spaniard and it’ll be a nervous end to this game for Klopp’s men.
A lot of late nerves on display from Liverpool here. They had this game by the throat after Roberto Firmino doubled his side’s lead, but Ing’s goal has really thrown a cat amongst the pigeons. Southampton are pushing for an equaliser.
Close! Oh deary me, it’s an awful chance missed by Danny Ings to make it 2-2. A sustained period of Southampton pressure sees the ball played out wide on the right with Yann Valery. He delivers a perfect cross right into the danger zone, but Ings fails to make contact with the ball. All it needed was a touch. He should have scored and Liverpool survive.
A third and final switch by Jurgen Klopp as he sends on Jordan Henderson to try and provide some leadership and stability late on here. He replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the final few minutes at St Mary’s.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.
FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
Referee Andre Marriner blows his whistle and it’s full-time at St Mary’s.
Goodness me, it was a nervous ending for Liverpool there, but Jurgen Klopp’s men hold on to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
Goals either side of the break from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino saw the visitors go 2-0 ahead and look to be in cruise control.
But a horrendous error from Adrian in goal allowed Danny Ings make it 2-1 late on and make it a fraught final few minutes for the European champions.
Thanks a million for joining us this afternoon — you can read our full match report here. Cya soon!
FULL TIME: #SaintsFC 1-2 #LFC@IngsDanny's late strike gave Ralph Hasenhüttl's men hope, but the visitors take all three points 😔 pic.twitter.com/AbfGVfW2wc
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 17, 2019
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