Southampton 1 Liverpool 0 (Jan 11 2017)

[tlw content 16,783]

We’ve been spoiled this season. We’ve had very few bad performances and even in the games when we’ve lost we’ve usually been the better side. This was by far the worst display of the season though. It was awful and we’re lucky that the tie isn’t already over, because Southampton deserved to win this by more than one goal. 
 
They defended brilliantly and completely shut us down, but - unlike in the recent league meeting between the sides - when the opportunity was there to attack they went for it, and this could easily have been a 3-0 defeat for us but for some good goalkeeping, poor finishing and the crossbar. The good news is that it’s only half time and we get to play the second half at Anfield. The other good news is it’s only 1-0. It feels like we got out of jail. 
 
That said, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something not quite right and that the wheels might be about to come completely off in the next few weeks. This wasn’t just a bad performance, it was a massively worrying one for me. We looked slow all over the pitch and our players were getting knocked off the ball all night. Every time any of our lads got the ball anywhere near Southampton’s final third, they had two or three players swarming around them and possession was usually lost. 
 
It looked like they had more men on the pitch than us, there was just no way through them at all, and even though their gameplan was mostly about keeping it tight, they still looked like scoring every time they ventured forward. How can we look like the tired team when Southampton have played more games than anybody this season? 

 

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[bigal 257]

Hard to disagree Dave, it was a completely deflating experience to sit through that match. A shadow of how we played a month ago. The lack of pace, the lack of ideas, the failure to get in the box. 

[goose 242]

The Daniel Sturridge note is brilliant - made me laugh out loud. Agree about the feeling of foreboding though. Most of the season we've looked like a really good team full of average players, so it's hard not to think that the magic is going to wear off at some stage.

[Razoray 868]

It was very similar to the league game there except we won the ball back and passed the ball quicker so tgey were less of a tgreat on the counter. We had more pace and better footballers in the front 6. Henderson Coutinho and Mané would be missed from any team.

[ZonkoVille77 5,793]

It was embarrassing and they should all be ashamed of themselves. Even if tiredness is taken into account, some of them just didn't bother at all. It was atrocious.

[Klopper60 1]

"That said, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something not quite right and that the wheels might be about to come completely off in the next few weeks"

 

Agree 100% and it's not only down to Mane being off as I thought we haven't been firing on all cylinders for a couple of weeks now. I think it's a combination of a)after our blazing start we're now in a bit of a down cycle(kind of the opposite to ManU), b)opponents are now sorting out how to play us and c)man for man were not really all that good so if we're not clicking as a unit there isn't enough individual brilliance to carry us through.

 

Whatever the reasons though, we're definitely in a slump and I'm not too confident about Sunday at all.

[s(k)aturation 5,928]

Playing with a squad of about 12 players might be starting to tell.

And the 12th ain't David Fairclough, unfortunately.

 

We eventually fell over in 2014 playing with so few... might happen earlier this term.

 

Sunday bloody Sunday.

[Mikecox1980 14]

Not one player stood out for me, maybe Karius and our defence felt a bit stronger, but possession means nothing without moving the ball quicker to the attack.

We're not a team that just lumps it up front (because we don't have a striker able to control play like that) but we needed to put pressure on them before they manage to get six in the back line arranged with time for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

I'm really really hoping they were saving themselves for Sunday...

[Marcas 74]

Thought Can was a waste of a shirt. Can's like the land where footballs go to die; as soon as one of them goes anywhere near him everything gets....really....really....slow...and....pon..der...ous. He kills every fucking move, seriously how many times did he lose the ball ffs? I know Lucas was ok, but any midfield with Lucas and Can in there is on a beaten docket from the start! The scum must be licking their fucktard lips right now...

[Ipplfc 62]

We desperately need one or two signings to freshan things up,gives everyone a lift,players and fans alike,it's a no fuck'n brainer,we need to inject some real pace back in the team,frustrating thing is the money's there to do it

[VladimirIlyich 9,502]

We are definitely in a slump. The fast tempo of a few weeks ago has turned into a leisurely stroll and we are easy to keep at arms length when players like Sturridge,Can and Lucas feature in the line up. I feel sorry for Origi as he can hold up the long balls Karius had to hit and has the pace to trouble defenders. He should be getting more starts as Sturridge is simply not effective for long periods but looks a threat in short periods from the bench. Origi is the opposite of this,he needs time to get into a game. We need some kind of shot in the arm and soon. I've got to say that Man U look favourites for Sunday and I'd be happy with a draw at present.

[Stickman 8,717]

I could be wrong as I watched it in the pub but every time I saw Klopp even he looked lethargic and for the most part seemed to be slumped in his seat like the energy had gone out of him.

It was also worrying in that you were happy to get in at half time one down and you thought great he'll tear a strip off them now but they actually came out and were worse.

I'm really worried about Sunday now as I think if they come out flying I'm not sure we'll be able to handle it.

[Anubis 21,415]

 

 

Calm yourselves. This is no time for a TLW wobble. We're British, damn it.

[stringvest 14,084]

We need some Coutinho and Lallana magic on Sunday to win.  Coutinho on from the start please. 

[Paul Wright 38]

I thought the game was played at a real quick tempo.

I was watching it from Live pause though on +6 speed

[dave u 7,507]

It was embarrassing and they should all be ashamed of themselves. Even if tiredness is taken into account, some of them just didn't bother at all. It was atrocious.

 

I don't even think we can take tiredness into account given we were playing Southampton. They've had more games than anyone else and had the worst of the Christmas fixtures. I don't know how many of them played in the FA Cup, but most of our team had been rested and had been off for ten days. Not that you'd have known by watching them.

[dave u 7,507]

Non-subscribers wont have seen this as it's in the report, but here's the note Klopp passed to Sturridge.  

 

 

 

For only two quid a month I'm virtually giving this shit away. Actually, by posting it in here I'm quite literally giving it away, but the point stands.

 

Click here to subscribe, go on, you know you want to.

[Mark M 1,725]

I thought the game was played at a real quick tempo.

I was watching it from Live pause though on +6 speed

 

I bet Can still looked slow.

[delightedscorer 4]

When you take Mane, Coutinho, Matip and Henderson out of the starting line up, you might argue thats our best 4 players. We cannot play a high intensity pressing game with Lucas, Can, Sturridge in the team. Klopp has to then find a way of winning with this handicap. Thats not possible with this squad so I would agree we need reinforcements. The most important thing for me though is that this is not about Klopp. He is currently polishing a lot of turds and you only have to read back over the last couple of seasons to realise that. There is no better man out there for LFC so lets make sure that where ever we lay the blame its not at his door.

[RedPaul 124]

Totally agree. We'll miss Mane, a lot. I just think the team is knackered from the high intensity game they play week in week out. That coupled with a big game this weekend (and the knowledge we have a second bite at this lot) I just think they took their foot off the gas. We don't seem to have a big enough squad of players who can maintain this intensity in every game. There are not enough players to rotate. We do need to buy!

[eeyore 176]

Don't forget spurs went there and absolutely fucking bummed Southampton a couple of weeks ago

[dave u 7,507]

Southampton played against Spurs with ten men. Against us it looked like they had 14 or 15.

[eeyore 176]

They were all over Southampton before the redmond sending off