Southampton v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective
This was another in a string of similar performances under Slot, where the team gradually takes control of the game, but always looks to just do enough to win. This one was marred by a few moments of poor play, which looked arrogant, like the team felt the game was already won at 1-0 and led to Southampton getting back into it. Actually, I think complacent is a better word than arrogant. Saints’ ability to get back into the game was aided by the size and strength of Onuachu, who was as awkward to deal with as Peter Crouch, being 6ft 7″ tall, but with strength and a decent turn of foot as well. He troubled both centre-backs badly and a defensive-minded midfielder was a miss there, as no one sought to front screen him and make it more difficult for him to get control of the balls played up to him. There is no way anyone is going to get above him and beat him in the air, so the only way to deal with it is to front screen him and just make it as difficult as possible for him to do anything worthwhile with it.
What was worrying is how quickly the team descended into nonchalance in the first half, after taking a lead. Maybe it was just too easy, but it did feel like van Dijk fell back into the old bad habits he had developed when at Southampton as a player. It cost the team a goal and nearly the three points, but this team is good enough to pick itself up and get itself going after a bad spell. The will to win is incredible, reminiscent of Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’, that just never knew when they were beaten.
The style is closer to the Liverpool of the 1980s though. That measured possession-based play that ground down teams, rather than blasted them away as we had become accustomed to under Klopp. It worked then and so far it is working now. Back then it was the next step in the team’s evolution from occasional winners to constant trophy winners. Perhaps it is once again happening? The signs are certainly good so far, but it is far too early to tell.
There are issues, particularly with midfield squad depth for the deeper position. There is no real alternative to Gravenberch and there is a lack of alternative options to change things if needed. Only Endo offers any real steel, if the opposition turn the match into a battle once more. With the Japanese midfielder ageing, and not being high on Slot’s list of starters, that will need to be looked at. Though I do feel Slot could make a bit more use of Endo, to allow Gravenberch a rest sometimes.
Southampton
Southampton only have one man to blame for the predicament they find themselves in – Russell Martin. His insistence on playing out from the back is not the main issue, they actually do have the players within their squad to play that way. The issue is for me twofold. Firstly, he is not picking the right players in the right positions, Stephens, for example, is not a left-sided centre-back, nor is he a ball-playing centre-back. The bigger issue is the coaching, which has not improved the way the players attempt to play the system.
Referring back to Stephens again, he is still not setting himself in preparation to receive a ball under any kind of pressure. Instead of opening his body up ready, to increase his options to play the ball, he is being left in a panic and playing the ball blindly into danger. The keeper is a different matter, he is a back up and a terrible one at that, you have to expect a drop off in performance level, but the players in front of him were not helping him out. He was given no real passing options. At least he realised that, eventually, and just began to clear it.
You do wonder how different things could have been, if he had begun the game looking to go long to the big man up top, it would have forced the Liverpool press to drop off. That would then have opened up the short passes for the rest of the game. It is such a simple thing to do, you wonder why the coaches at the club are not telling these players to react to the situation the moment it is clear an aggressive high press is being used against them. You also have to wonder how players can come up through an academy system without knowing these kind of things as part of their basic knowledge of the game.
There does seem to be a problem with academy footballers, this lack of basic understanding of the game and ability to think for themselves, rather than just blindly following their coach’s instructions. If the Saints actually figure out when to play out from the back, they might have a chance of survival. Otherwise, they are just going to continue to throw away points they desperately need.
Liverpool
Kelleher – decent enough game, was not really at blame for the goals, but he is up against the extraordinary in Alisson, who you always feel might have pulled out a wonder save for one of them.
Bradley – not his best game. He was so bad defensively on their second goal, it was embarrassing. It was schoolboy stuff from him, just running towards the ball, rather than positioning himself and being aware of what was around him. That was a very stark reminder of just how much he has to learn.
Konate – had a terrible first half, a silly, needless booking was just part of his return to something like the struggles he would sometimes have under Klopp. The booking did seem to help focus him and he improved for the rest of the half. He was much better in the second half and not so flustered, though he was helped by Onuachu going off. After that, Saints lacked a focal point and it was much easier for the centre-backs to play.
van Dijk – another who looked complacent in the first half and his giveaway for the first goal was a huge blunder. It was very like the kind of error he used to make in his Southampton days. He was much improved in the second half, but he needs to do better from the start, as Forest showed that we will not always be able to dig ourselves out of a hole.
Robertson – a very poor game from the Scotland captain. He looked sluggish and made a poor error in judgement to go for the challenge that resulted in Saints’ penalty. Regardless of whether it was inside or outside the box, forget whether it should have been given, the point is that he should not have made the challenge. The question has to be asked of his future at the club, whether he is just tired from the internationals or on a decline, a team challenging for trophies cannot afford passengers. Right now, he is one. Though I would be loath to lose his personality from the club, I am not sure that he can continue on at the top level while playing international football any more and I would not expect him to want to give up the captaincy of his country to continue to play for us.
Gravenberch – at times, it was clear that he is not defensively minded, first and foremost. The defence needed his help with dealing with the forward, who was able to take the ball in far too easily from aerial balls, with no cover in front. Overall, he was still very good, but just needed that little bit of defensive forethought.
Szoboszlai – finally got a goal and looked so much better for it. His defensive work was particularly strong in this match, he covered so much ground and was a big part of the win.
Jones – had a poor game, too many touches in a game that was crying out for faster ball movement. He was also very off on his defensive game. Like Gravenberch, he should have been helping out more defensively, helping to front screen the high ball, just to make it more difficult for the forward to take the ball in.
Nunez – he embarrassed himself with his ridiculous fall to the ground and attempt to claim he had been fouled in the box. Nothing was quite working out for him, though he was not exactly missing lots of chances, it just was not being delivered into areas he could get on the end of it. He does play an important role in the press and works back brilliantly, but he needs to score more goals.
Salah – excellent game. He really looks revitalised this season after a summer off. The only real question is if he can keep it going all season? If so, he could come close, or even better, the numbers from his first season.
Gakpo – did not have the best of games, but must have felt unlucky to be the one taken off for Diaz.
Mac Allister – replaced Jones in the 62nd minute. He was given much more license to get forward and looked so much better as a result. He is so much more suited to playing high up, threading balls around the edge of the opposition box.
Diaz – came on for Gakpo in 62nd minute. His arrival, along with Mac Allister’s, seemed to lift the performance to another level. His movement, and workrate, caused Soton so many problems.
Endo – took Nunez’s place in the 89th minute. Somehow, despite only being on the pitch from the 89th minute, he managed to show that he is so much more than just a capable shield in front of the defence. He harried, hustled, covered and tackled, like you want from a defensive midfielder, but he also showed more, protecting the ball and keeping possession despite being under enormous pressure.
Written by Tris Burke November 27 2024 06:31:02
