Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Premier League – Player Ratings

Southampton put in a quality team performance, taking Liverpool to the brink, but ultimately missed their opportunity in a 1-2 loss.

Ralph Hasenhuttl received an incredible first half response from his team following the loss at Burnley.  They were on the front foot for most of it, with a 15 minute period where they looked like a better team.  The press was working, the Liverpool front three were uninvolved, and the Saints just needed a goal for their effort.  Maya Yoshida and Che Adams were given the best opportunities, both from headers.  Yan Valery also saw a ball fall kindly for him, but was unable to get his left foot through it.

The commentators were right to continually criticize Southampton for not capitalizing on their strong play.  A Sadio Mane strike within a critical point, right before the half, was all took to undue the Saints’ hard work.

Liverpool flashed their class to start the second half.  Finally rewarded when Jan Bednarek gifted a ball to Sadio Mane, who assisted Roberto Firmino’s goal.  Southampton could have been broken right then and there, but were energized by second half substitutes.  Danny Ings added an attacker to the shape, Stuart Armstrong brought instant energy, and Moussa Djenepo showed his quality in his debut.

Pressure from the front three handed Ings his first goal against his former club.  Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian looked shaky all day in possession and bounced one off the Saints’ forward to make the game interesting.  Ings was given the best chance of the game to tie the match in the 85th minute, but missed the ball entirely, as Southampton dropped their second consecutive match.

Here are the player ratings for the Saints’ players in their clash against Liverpool.