LIVERPOOL TITLE PUSH BUILDS NEXT SEASON

LIVERPOOL TITLE PUSH BUILDS NEXT SEASON

D. Ray Morton, 2nd March 2014.

It was billed as the kind of game that would stop Liverpool's title momentum but yesterday at St. Mary's, The Reds brushed aside Southampton in a thoroughly professional performance which keeps them very much in the title chase with ten games left to play. Though Chelsea go four points clear thanks to their win against Fulham and Manchester City can draw level on points granted they win their two games in hand, should Liverpool keep picking up wins, this could be their year. Regardless of whether Chelsea and City slip, or if Arsenal manage to rediscover their form, when Liverpool's season finishes, they have an awesome platform for next year. It is highly unlikely that they would now finish outside a Champions League qualification spot.

The opening quarter of an hour was actually rather sloppy, with both teams giving away possession in an attempt to figure each other out. Luis Suarez gave Liverpool the lead thanks to some dogged harrying of Southampton's defence which lead to a mistake by Jose Fonte to which the Uruguayan punished with an accurate first-time finish. A good way to start his 100th Premier League appearance.

 

Southampton did not roll over however and they managed to get hold of the ball and create chances. Adam Lallana especially impressed as he managed to trouble Liverpool's back four by turning up in different positions and testing them with his mazy dribbling skills. Had Rickie Lambert's finishing on the day been better, The Saints could have drawn level before the interval.

Lallana should be going to Brazil with the England squad come the summer. Lambert looked far off that standard. Indeed, Lallana hit the woodwork on 32 minutes where Southampton began to dominate possession as Brendan Rodgers' side sat off the home team. Jay Rodriguez came close just before half-time but was denied by a good save from Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool switched things up in the second half and brought on Raheem Sterling for Philippe Coutinho early after the restart. Within eighty seconds, the diminutive winger had found himself on the scoresheet. Suarez worked the ball down the right a provided a cross as Sterling got into the perfect position to slot home unmarked inside the Southampton penalty area.

From there, the away side managed to kill the game off by defending well and pressing Southampton who had 60% of the ball but were not able to do much with it. It was a demonstration of devastating counter attacking play, very different from Rodgers' Swansea who insisted on possession over incisiveness. The away fans were the only ones singing and Suarez helped complete the victory by winning a penalty in injury time. Steven Gerrard duly dispatched it to give the visitors a 3-0 win.

So a solid win for a team in form. With ten games remaining, it's not unthinkable for Liverpool to pinch the title but realistically, the optimism should be geared towards next season. Champions League football and the likelihood that Luis Suarez will stay should attract better players to the club and Rodgers will be able to invest in badly-needed defenders and a few more specialists to fill up his squad.

Southampton 0-3 Liverpool (Suarez 16, Sterling 58, Gerrard 90+ pen)

Player ratings:

Southampton: Boruc (6); Chambers (6), Lovren (5), Fonte (4.5), Shaw (6); Schneiderlin (6), Cork (6); Davis (5.5), Lallana (7), Rodriguez (6.5); Lambert (5). Subs: Gaston (5), Wanyama (5.5), Gallagher (5).

Liverpool: Mignolet (6.5); Flanagan (6.5), Skrtel (6.5), Agger (6.5), Johnson (6.5); Gerrard (7), Henderson (6.5), Allen (6.5); Coutinho (6.5); Sturridge (6.5), Suarez* (9) Subs: Sterling (7.5), Aspas (-).

* = man of the match