Mind games
Liverpool 0 Southampton 0: Reds go third in the Premier League after James Milner is outwitted by Fraser Forster from the spot
Jurgen Klopp's side lacked creativity and could not break down their opponent's sturdy defence
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LIVERPOOL go above Manchester City into third place by one point after they lacked creativity against Southampton with James Milner missing a penalty at Anfield.
In a dull first half, Liverpool huffed and puffed but failed to break down Saints with their centre-backs Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens being the busiest players on the pitch.
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With the Reds lacking intensity, Jurgen Klopp ran down the tunnel at half-time but his side didn't improve much as they continued to dominate possession.
The Reds were handed a penalty on the hour mark by Bobby Madley when Lucas Leiva's long ball hit Divock Origi before the ball bounced onto Stephens' arm.
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But while he waited a long time before taking the penalty, Fraser Forster stood up to Milner and spoke in his ear before saving the midfielder's penalty low to his left.
Daniel Sturridge brought more life to Liverpool's attack and had an excellent chance but his tame effort was stopped by Forster.
The Reds were fortunate when Simon Mignolet made the rash decision to leave his area and meet the ball, he just beat Dusan Tadic to the ball but he appeared to handle it outside of his area.
The Reds piled on the pressure in injury but were forced settle for a draw as Forster denied Marko Grujic who headed Milner's cross goalwards.
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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- DANIEL STURRIDGE started on the bench meaning he began the day having played only 22% of Premier League minutes under Jurgen Klopp – or 1,316 minutes - before kick – off.
- SAINTS FANS got a programme ticking off from Jurgen Klopp for the way they abuse former hero Adam Lallana, the German writing : “He always speaks about the club with such great respect and appreciation for the opportunities they gave him.”
- PITCH PERFECT? Not really according to the Anfield groundsman who will tear it up and start again after the last home game of the season against Middlesbrough.
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- NO WONDER Oriol Romeu is a Liverpool target - the former Barca and Chelsea defensive midfielder looking worth six times more than the £5M Saints paid for him.
- GRAEME SOUNESS rightly called the action “dull” at half time by which Liverpool had failed to score against Southampton in 393 minutes since Daniel Sturridge’s goal in March last year.
- LIVERPOOL BOSS Jurgen Klopp sprinted down the tunnel at half – time…perhaps trying to lead by example after his players plodded and prodded their way through the Merseyside sunshine.
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- JAMES MILNER had scored 12 straight penalties for Liverpool but attempt No 13 was unlucky for him as Frazer Forster was saved low and right fairly easily.
- FRAZER FORSTER celebrated with a fist pump after saving James Milner’s penalty – the first in nine he has stopped in his Prem career.
- THE ANFIELD scoreboard shut down mid-way through the second half – then again other than recording sub changes there was nothing else to report.
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- Forster saved his first Premier League penalty – Milner’s effort was the ninth he’d faced.
- Forster was the first opposition goalkeeper to save a Premier League penalty at Anfield since Rob Green saved Steven Gerrard’s effort for QPR in May 2015.
- Indeed, only Vito Mannone (13 for Sunderland in January) has made more saves against Liverpool in a Premier League game this season than Forster (8) today.
- Only Hull (12) have conceded more Premier League penalties this season than Southampton (9).
- Saints failed to have a single shot on target in either Premier League game against Liverpool this season.
BIG PICTURE
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Next fixtures
Liverpool
May 14 - West Ham (A) - PL
May 21 - Middlesbrough (H) - PL
End of the season
Southampton
May 10 - Arsenal (H) - PL
May 13 - Middlesbrough (A) - PL
May 17 - Man Utd (H) - PL
May 21 - Stoke (H) - PL
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Clyne 6, Lovren 7, Matip 7, Milner 7, Can 6, Lucas 6 (Lallana 69, 6), Wijnaldum 6 (Grujic 87, 6), Coutinho 7, Firmino 6, Origi 5 (Sturridge 69, 6).
Subs not used: Karius, Klavan, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold
Booked: Lovren.
Southampton: Forster 9, Cedric 6, Yoshida 7, Stephens 6, Bertrand 6, Davis 6, Ward-Prowse 6, Romeu 7, Tadic 6, Boufal 6 (Redmond 60, 6), Gabbiadini 6 (Long 69, 6).
Subs not used: Rodriguez, Caceres, Hojbjerg, Pied, Hassen.
Booked: Soares, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse.
WHAT THEY SAID
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports: "I thought our performance was good enough to win.
"Southampton wanted to come here and somehow get a point, or more, and I'm fine with defending.
"They did not create anything and we had a hard job to do. To play against 10 deep defending Southampton players is very difficult.
"We could have scored, that would have opened them up a bit. It is a point more but it doesn't feel like that.
"It is not finished yet. We all have to play our games. We go to West Ham and try to win and that's all we can do. We try everything and we do not stop."
Saints manager Claude Puel: "I think it was a fantastic job for us. We defended very well and with quality and good organisation.
"Perhaps we could have done better with the counter attack, but we showed good energy, spirit and organisation.
"It was difficult for them to come into our box and for me it was a harsh penalty and a good save. It was a deserved point."
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