Liverpool v Southampton A Liverpool Perspective
Almost the perfect example of a ‘game of two halves’. It had started out really well for Liverpool, with them dominating the ball and penning Southampton in, right up until the clash of heads between two Saints’ defenders. The stoppage and substitution disrupted Liverpool’s rhythm and afterwards they seemed sluggish, lethargic even, and very passive. It is one thing being given a bit of a doing against Paris Saint-Germain, but when it is Southampton that are all over you, it is a worry, especially when they manage to score.
This is when your manager has to earn his corn, and Slot did just that by making a surprising triple substitution at half-time. Mainly surprising because he changed three players and one of them was not Darwin Nunez! Nunez had been having such a poor game and was walking a disciplinary tightrope, I think pretty much everyone expected him to be one of the players to make way. As usual, it was Slot who was right and it turned out to be another great decision by him.
The second half was a dominating, smothering performance. Slot said he had to make the players angry at half time and it showed. They were absolutely fired up and completely in charge of the match for the full 45 minutes. Nunez scored the equaliser and then won the penalty to give Liverpool the lead. While it was certainly at least partly down to the increased tempo and attitude of the players, the subs made a huge difference. Each of them contributed massively to the improvement.
Tactically, the game was fairly simple. In the first half Liverpool started off in control of the ball, passing it around and probing the Saints’ defences. But after the stoppage, Liverpool got put on the back foot and simply never recovered. Some players were clearly fatigued and were unable to get about the pitch to win possession back, which made it difficult. The second half saw Liverpool be more aggressive and get onto the front foot, chase down possession and kept Southampton held in. It was clear that Slot had managed to fire the players up at half time and it made all the difference.
The key thing to come from this game, and the weekend as a whole, was the mentality of the team. This team is made up of humans, who make mistakes and play badly at times, but they are also winners. They make a mistake and they work harder to make up for it. When they concede a goal, it fires them up. Most importantly, when they equalise, it is just a quick celebration and then get on with the business of hunting for another. They are not satisfied with second place or second best.
Southampton
There are clear signs of improvement by the Saints, they still have the odd moment of messing about at the back and putting themselves under pressure, but they are much more forward thinking now. For a long period, after Bednarek went off, they looked very good and put Liverpool under a lot of pressure. Certainly the team spirit seems good, there is no lack of desire and there was no sign of heads dropping until Liverpool got their third. Though it did look different the last time I saw them, where Fernandes was constantly just throwing his arms up in the air and giving up or standing round with hands on hips watching. He is very much a weak link for them, I believe.
They are still miles off being good enough to even challenge to stay in the Premier League. They dominated for a long period, but their only goal came courtesy of a silly mix up between van Dijk and Alisson, rather than something good they did themselves. In my opinion, that is their biggest problem, their lack of any kind of firepower and creativity. Sulemana is quick, but his end product is almost non-existent and that is pretty much all they have in the attacking third.
Liverpool
Alisson – was part of a mix up with van Dijk, other than that he did not really have a lot to do, despite Liverpool being under the cosh for most of the first half.
Alexander-Arnold – defended well in the first half but struggled to create anything. In the second half, he was given a lot more freedom to roam and made the most of it to ping the ball about well.
Konate – a good game, defending well and doing well on the ball.
van Dijk – was badly at fault for the Saints’ goal, but other than that he played very well. He was exceptional in the second half. Mistakes happen, but what makes the like of van Dijk into winners is the way they respond to those mistakes or other setbacks.
Tsimikas – it was little wonder he got hooked at half time, he had a terrible half. The worst thing about his game is his runs. He constantly runs into Diaz’s space, while the winger is on the ball, leaving him nowhere to go and allowing the opposition to double up easily.
Gravenberch – struggled a bit for him, looked very tired and leggy. It was clear he is a little fatigued again as he was very loose with his passing as well.
Szoboszlai – unsurprisingly, after all the mileage he has put in, he looked way off the pace too. It was little wonder he was taken off at half time, he clearly needs a rest.
Jones – had a fairly decent game, but he is just not aggressive enough and does not play on the front foot, slowing the play too much. I believe that is why he was also brought off, as Mac Allister is much more direct.
Salah – not so good in the first half, but in the second half he was much better. Also added two more goals, via penalty, to his total for the season. It is insane just how good he has been this season at his age.
Nunez – in the first half, like pretty much everyone else in red, he looked well off the pace, with his touch horrible and the ball bouncing off him. Added to that, he was walking a disciplinary tightrope picking up a yellow card and being the wind up merchant we know he can be. Though he was still bringing the chaos, so to speak, chasing things down and not giving the defence a moment’s rest, it just was not coming off for him. In the second half, it was like a different player. The aggression was still there, but it was channelled in the right direction and he was there to slot home the equaliser like a number 9 should be. Suddenly, after that goal, he looked lifted, like the Nunez that the Kop adores was back. Brilliant management from Slot. His industry then, within a couple of minutes, got him in position to win the first penalty.
Diaz – had a poor first half, but was not helped by Tsimikas constantly blocking the space and leaving him nowhere to go. In the second half he was much better, with Robertson sitting deeper and letting him attack the full-back, which led to the opening goal.
Robertson – replaced Tsimikas at half time. The team looked so much better with him there, he has a much better idea of where to go and stays out of the way for Diaz to make his runs.
Elliott – came on for Szoboszlai at half time. Added energy and creativity with his range of passing and vision giving Liverpool much more points of attack. Looks like a player finally finding his form again after injury at just the right time of the season.
Mac Allister – was brought on in the stead of Jones at half time. I would personally credit him for having equal effect on the scoreline, along with the increased tempo and aggression, in the second half. He pushed right on Southampton, with their midfield lacking the pace and movement to exploit any gaps in behind he was free to get in their faces and play in areas he can create danger. He really was excellent.
Jota – took Nunez’s place in the 68th minute. He came on early enough to allow Nunez to be rested ready for the PSG return leg, to give Slot the option of either of them in the centre.
Endo – replaced Gravenberch in the 81st minute. In the supporters club I was watching the game in, the moment Endo was brought on saw an eruption of noise like the game was already over. And it was. He did not just shut the door on Saints’ hopes of coming back, he locked and bolted it too. If only he was younger!
Quansah – the sixth substitute, due to concussion protocols, he came on in the place of Alexander-Arnold in the 89th minute. Never had time to do much at all.
Written by Tris Burke March 11 2025 04:37:53
