The difference between the Good and the Great
If Southampton play at their best they can go toe to toe with anyone in the land. This campaign has already seen the club defeat both Arsenal and Tottenham, whilst holding Manchester United to a draw.
This latest effort has once again proven that at their max, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s charges are capable to take on wanna-be champions. However, it also demonstrates the key difference between raising your game to challenge a top contender and being one yourself.
The hosts pulled out all the stops to match the second placed opponents. They were focused, sharp, quick to react to developing dangers, while causing several themselves.
Saints held the shape well against an electric frontline, whilst also managing to take the ball in Liverpool’s final third. The Anfield outfit may have had more of the ball in the early goings, but the Red and White made more of it.
LFC, had very little their own way as Saints employed their selective pressing and weren’t afraid to put in tough tackles. A once shaky defence gave up very few clear-cut chances and moved fast to snuff out the danger.
Liverpool who are known for their high-intensity starts to games, appeared slower and a little off the pace. They nevertheless posed a continual threat through the likes of former Saint Sadio Mané.
While Southampton had the better of the first half exchanges, the Champions League winners still managed to find a first half equalizer courtesy of Naby Keïta.
The title hunters succeeded because they can jump on even the smallest moment of weakness. A poor ball into the box from James Ward Prowse at one end, suddenly became a goal for Liverpool at the other. With their beleaguered challengers forced to chase the game, LFC were given the space to put the gloss on the result.
Top outfits not only possess the ability to outplay opponents, but as the going gets tough they lie in wait for an inevitable mistake and exploit it. Of course, top sides make mistakes too, but when they do, they are swift to close the usually small window of opportunity.
While relegation threatened sides may need three decent chances to score one, the big dogs can find that clinical steel as a guilt edged chance arises.
If Southampton want to find themselves among the elite one day, they must not only learn to cut out the mistakes but also find a way of maintaining a threat even while playing poorly.
The performance against Tottenham, showed that kind of potential but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Liverpool’s transfer budget would also help, but that’s probably too much to ask for isn’t it?