Southampton hold out for goalless draw against Liverpool
By Chris Hughes
Despite coming away with a point against one of the league’s top four, the Saints were once again disappointing as they drew 0-0 an Anfield.
Southampton continued their streak as Liverpool’s bogey team, as Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to win against the Saints in their fourth attempt this season.
The goalless draw also means that the Reds have failed to score against Claude Puel’s side, with the Frenchman remaining undefeated against Liverpool across his managerial career.
But once again Southampton were disappointing, as they failed to test Simon Mignolet once with only four attempts across the whole 90 minutes which were all off target.
Fraser Forster therefore stole the show for his efforts at the other end of the pitch, with his most notable action being a save from James Milner’s eighth penalty of the season. The English international dived down to low to his right to stop his national teammate.
But Liverpool will of thought they deserved more, having had 17 shots across the game. However several of them were tame or directly at Forster, with Klopp’s side lacking the clinical touch on the sunny afternoon.
The game started off in drab fashion, with more controversial fouls than there was shots from the Saints. Manolo Gabbiadini was consistently caught offside, but that came from the Italian’s isolation and a lack of support from the three behind him.
But at the other end of the pitch Southampton were better, with both full-backs playing with discipline and forcing Liverpool to constantly attempt shots from the edge of the box.
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The second half brought about a bit more action with the game’s climax coming in the 66th minute, when Jack Stephens controlled a ball with his arm in a second of confusion in the box.
James Milner, who has scored all seven of his goals this season from 12 yards, saw his spot-kick saved by Fraser Forster. The 29-year-old hadn’t saved a penalty in the Premier League for the Saints before today.
The end of the game however showed a serious lack of intent from the Saints however, with Gabbiadini taken off for Long with 20 minutes to go and a continuous lack of attempts.
Late in the game the Saints sat deep to force substitute Daniel Sturridge and the tricky Phillipe Coutinho to once again attempt 20-yard shots.
Even with five or six minutes to go the Saints showed no attempt at trying to counter-attack when they dispossessed the home side. Despite this the Saints go back up to tenth, a point behind Leicester. Next up is Arsenal this Wednesday.