Saints Marching
Fansided

Three takeaways from yesterday’s draw between Southampton and Liverpool

By Chris Hughes

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Claude Puel, Manager of Southampton shakes hands with Oriol Romeu of Southampton after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on May 7, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Claude Puel, Manager of Southampton shakes hands with Oriol Romeu of Southampton after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on May 7, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea shouts as Claude Puel manager of Southampton looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on April 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea shouts as Claude Puel manager of Southampton looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on April 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

‘Puel-ball’ is unambitious in the extreme

A solid proportion of Southampton fans were pleased with the result yesterday, and granted a point against a team in third is a solid return.

However the way that the Saints set up was to sit all the way back from the start, something that Southampton supporters aren’t a fan of.

Under Maurcio Pochettino the south coast side were able to beat top teams through pressuring them into mistakes, but Puel’s style of play was to just stay rigid and soak up Liverpool’s dominant possession.

It meant that Manolo Gabbiadini fed off scraps for the entire time, and after the penalty save it was clear the Frenchman had set the side up to ride it out for the point. On more than one occasion late in the game Saints one of the ball with the chance to counter, but no was even close to the Liverpool half, let alone making a run.

What’s more, Puel’s inability to play two strikers at once is something that’s continuously frustrating the fan-base, with their Italian striker going off with over 20 minutes to play.

Tadic and Ward-Prowse’s afternoon’s were far from spectacular and a change of tactic with Long also up top could’ve opened Liverpool’s defence.

The 55-year-old may be guiding Southampton to a top-half finish, but his set-up’s lack of ambition is something that cannot be ignored.