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Southampton 0-2 Liverpool: Three Key Players

By Jack Deery

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Roberto Firmino of Liverpool is challenged by Wesley Hoedt of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Roberto Firmino of Liverpool is challenged by Wesley Hoedt of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Wesley Hoedt

Now I imagine this is quite a controversial pick for a lot of you, and I understand where you are coming from. At fault for the first goal and arguably at fault for the second, the Dutchman had a bit of a poor first half. However, I have included him in this due to his second half performance. A lot of players, after making a mistake, will let their heads drop and get very nervous.

However, in the second half Hoedt stepped up for Saints and it could have been a lot more if he had not been there. On numerous occasions, Hoedt was left as the last man with one of the best players in the league, Mo Salah, running at him. Many times this season Salah has destroyed defences by doing that, but Hoedt stood his ground and dispossessed him every time.

Not only this, but Hoedt won 5 aerial duels and boasted an impressive 87.9% pass accuracy, the second best for Saints behind Lemina.

It was by no means the former Lazio man’s best performance in a Saints shirt, but due to the poor performances all over the pitch for Saints, he was one of the key players.