Liverpool suffered their second Premier League loss of the season with a 1-0 defeat at Southampton – which left the hosts’ manager Ralph Hasenhuttl emotional on the touchline and the visitors’ title hopes in jeopardy.
Danny Ings was the Saints’ matchwinner as he netted from an indirect free-kick on just two minutes – a goal which proved to be enough for a win over his former team.
Although they conceded early on, defence proved to be the least of Liverpool’s problems despite starting two midfielders – Fabinho and Jordan Henderson – at centre back.
Klopp’s men had multiple chances to get back into the game, as they kept 68 per cent of the possession and had 17 total shots. However, just one of those attempts was enough to trouble Saints back-up keeper Fraser Forster – who was on his way to keeping his first clean sheet in over three years.
Liverpool also had two calls for penalties denied and, despite the reigning champions keeping the pressure on the whole game, a lack of creativity and precise finishing from their front three allowed the Saints to keep a hold on their early lead.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp reflected upon his team’s offensive performance, saying: ‘With the situations we had, the possession we had, the way we played, we should have worked Fraser Forster much more. He should have had much more to do with the game but that’s the situation we put ourselves in.’
The result leaves the door open for Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United to go top. The two foes are tied on 33 points but United have a game in hand.
With seventh place Everton sitting just four points behind the Reds, Liverpool must amend their issues up front in the coming games or else risk losing their grip on the table completely – and no-one knows this better than Klopp.
He continued: ‘This was a rather rusty moment; we have to admit that. You can only solve a problem if you know the problem, and we are not blind to our problems. We have to fight and play through this, it’s up to us to change that.’
But it can be expected to get worse before it gets better for the Scousers. They travel to Aston Villa, who thumped them 7-2 in the league earlier this season, in the FA Cup third round before hosting United in a top-of-the-table showdown at Anfield. They also travel to title challengers Tottenham either side of kinder fixtures against Burnley and West Ham.
As for Southampton, this win means they are now the only club to have beaten all seven Premier League champions the following season of their title triumph. This victory also puts them back in the top six after a four-game winless run in the top flight. Post-match, it was clear what the win meant for the team, and for manager Hasenhuttl as he got the better of Klopp for the first time.
He stated: ‘It’s a perfect start to 2021. No one expected to take points against them today, we have 29, we’re on our way and let’s keep on going. It was an important step forward.’
However, the Saints will need another defensive masterclass if they are to keep this position in the league, as their next league game will see them travel to third-placed Leicester City.
By Kit McIntosh
