The champions suffered a second defeat of the season after losing 0-1 away to Southampton in the last match of the 17th round of the Premier League. The Saints came to St. Mary’s success with a goal by Danny Ings in the second minute, who managed to technically lob Alisosn after a James Ward-Prowse free-kick. The guests tried to change their destiny, but their attacks were toothless and Jurgen Klopp’s players made their first shot on target only in the 75th minute. Liverpool recorded a second defeat after 2-7 against Aston Villa on October 4.
Liverpool doesn’t know success in three consecutive matches, before this match they recorded two consecutive draws in Premiere League against West Bromwich and Newcastle. The Saints tasted victory for the first time since December 13 last year, when they beat 3-0 Sheffield United. Liverpool and Southampton had met each other 86 times before this match in the elite, and the balance was strictly in favor of The Reds – 44 wins against 21 and 21 draws. The last meeting between them was in February last year, when Liverpool won 4-0 at Anfield.
The game at St. Mary started excellent for Southampton, who scored in the second minute. Thiago Alcantara made a mistake in the middle of the field, which led to a free-kick in favor of Southampton. Behind the ball stood James Ward-Prowse, who crossed the ball into the penalty area. Trent Alexander-Arnold failed to clear it and it fell to Danny Ings, who with a with left shot managed to lob Alisson for 1-0 .
Liverpool answered sharply after the goal and were close to equalizing in the 13th minute, but the hosts managed clear the danger that came after a pass from Alexander-Arnold to Sadio Mane. Liverpool won a corner, which was followed by a rather inaccurate shot by Jordan Henderson.
In the 18th minute Forster deflected a shot by Mohamed Salah, but even if he had scored, it would have been canceled because the Egyptian was in office. In the 25th minute Southampton organized a quick attack, but the pass in the penalty area did not reach Theo Walcott.
Both managers did not make any changes at half-time. Five minutes in the second Liverpool demanded a penalty for a handball, but the referee Andre Mariner did not seek the intervention of VAR and signaled the game to continue with a corner.
Liverpool continued to increase, the pressure but The Reds could not create any clear situations. Klopp resorted to his first substitution and put in Xherdan Shaqiri in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. A dangerous situation followed in front of Forester, but the ball did not reach Sadio Mane.
Liverpool’s attacks followed one after another, but Southampton’s defense did well. The Saints relied on occasional counterattacks in search of a decisive second goal. In the 65th minute Danny Ings found the outline of Alison’s door, but the Brazilian keeper managed to catch the ball. A little later, a promising attack by Liverpool was interrupted in the penalty area after good defending by Bendnarek.
In the 83rd minute there was an excellent opportunity for Southampton to decide the match in their favor. Substitute Yan Valery took advantage of Alisson rushing out and sent the ball behind him, but a meter before the goal Jordan Henderson managed to catch up and clear. By the end even the goalkeeper Alisson joined in the attack, but without success.
Thus, Liverpool remained with an equal number of points – 33 each, with Manchester United. Southampton climbed to sixth place with 29, the same with Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton.
Liverpool will face Manchester United on January 17.
