The battle for the top four continues in the Premier League, as fourth-placed Southampton hosts Liverpool at St Mary’s on Monday morning. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:00am AEDT.
When Southampton was pillaged by its Premier League rivals last summer, any chatter about top four, or even title calculations were disregarded with incredulity. Having sold £100m worth of players, as well as farewelling former manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Saints were chalked in amongst teams slated for relegation – such was the instability on the South Coast.
In what can only be described as managerial genius alongside precise star alignment, Southampton have spent the large part of the season in the top four. While the title may be a bridge too far, the work of Ronald Koeman and his ability to integrate new players is such that missing out on next season’s Champions League will be viewed as disappointment, not surprise.
Catapulting Southampton’s ascension has been their excellent record at St Mary’s, where they’ve won seven out of 13 games. Yet the last start outing against 10-man West Ham yielded a goalless draw, meaning the Saints have failed to win at home since New Year’s Day against Arsenal.
Changes are expected to be minimal for the visit of Liverpool, with both Morgan Schneiderlin and Shane Long likely to return from ijury to the squad. The only change mooted for the starting team may be the attack-minded Dusan Tadic to replace either Steven Davis or Victor Wanyama.
Of course, much of the pre-match chatter centres around Liverpool, or more specifically, those at Liverpool who only 12 months ago wore the red of Southampton. The Reds spent £50m to acquire the services of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren from the South Coast, and out of the three, only Lallana has somewhat justified his price tag, and only Lambert can expect any goodwill from the Saints fans, if he can appear from the bench.
With injuries to captain Steven Gerrard and midfielder Lucas, Brendan Rodgers may be tempted to start Lallana in midfield alongside stand-in skipper Jordan Henderson. Liverpool’s three-man central defence is likely to come under barrage from Southampton’s Tadic/Pelle combination. Rodgers may resort to wingbacks to counter this threat, resulting in both Philippe Coutinho and Jordon Ibe starting further back. Daniel Sturridge will lead the line, but support may be required from Raheem Sterling, who could start after recent injury woes.
The other factor favouring Southampton is the 11 days rest they’ve had since the draw against West Ham, while Liverpool back up only three days after winning narrowly in the Europa League against Besiktas. Last season’s result at St Mary’s bears no indication of what may transpire: Lambert, Lallana and Lovren were still all Southampton players, and Liverpool had Luis Suarez.
Liverpool has been the inform team in 2015, but even so, Southampton has thrown surprise after shock this season in downing their better-fancied opponents. When Liverpool won 2-1 on the opening weekend, few would have accurately predicted the fortunes of the respective sides. Expect no shortage of motivation either from Southampton’s management or loyal fanbase, in trying to prove a point to their former employees, at the expense of Liverpool’s top four aspirations.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton I'll be back next Sunday evening to bring you another Liverpool clash, this time they'll be at home to the champions Manchester City. Before that, they'll have to contend with a trip to Turkey for the second leg of their Europa League tie against Besiktas. Southampton have a trip to the MIdlands next weekend at West Bromwich Albion. Thanks for your company. Final result from St Mary's was Southampton 0-2 Liverpool. Have a lovely morning!
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton They will keep that clean sheet! It's all over at St Mary's, as Liverpool grab a vital three points that sees them two points from the Champions League places! Goals for Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling at either end of the match has won this for Liverpool, despite in many respects, being second to Southampton for much of the match. But the defensive quality, yes the defensive quality of Brendan Rodgers' team has secured this result. FULLTIME: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+4: Well this is a stat to showcase the evolution Brendan Rodgers has undertaken. Should Liverpool keep their goal intact for the next 10 seconds, this will be their fifth successive away clean sheet, a record not bettered since the days of Joe Fagan. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: Play developed forward for Southampton, but Coutinho with a vital defensive touch to keep Mignolet's clean sheet intact. Just over a minute remaining. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: Sturridge and Henderson to ensure the play doesn't develop, and takes time off. Throw taken by Henderson, and Liverpool keep it confined in the corner, but not for long. Throw for Southampton, but they lose it as Sturridge takes a speculative pop at Forster's goal, to no avail. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Deflected onto the feet of Pelle, whose shot was blocked. It developed into a opportunity for a bicycle kick for Schneiderlin, but couldn't beat Mignolet. Four minutes added, as Sturridge earns a corner after a brilliant piece of work by Sterling to see of three red shirts to keep the play alive. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Mane brought down by a stray leg by Allen. Just outside the box, but it's truly last chance saloon for Southampton. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Sturridge! Saved by Forster! Lovely ball from Coutinho finds Sturridge through a narrow channel, and the shot was well directed at an angle, but Forster positioned himself well. Forster finally has a save to make, apart from the two unsuccessful attempts at the goals. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'86: Once again, cleared emphatically in the air by Skrtel, before Liverpool get a relieving free kick after a foul by Tadic. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'84: Another needless challenge, as Henderson enters the book for a near rugby tackle on Mane, who clutches onto where it hurts most. Not much time remaining for Southampton to mount a comeback, but Tadic is on this. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Johnson's only been on the field for a few minutes, but he clutches onto his shoulder in pain, as he remains on the turf. This after a needless swipe on Mane. It's actually his wrist he holds onto. He'll get treatment, and Liverpool will briefly go to 10. All changes made for both sides. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Possession wise, and it's a totally different result. Southampton 61-39. '80: If Liverpool are to somehow resurrect their season by finishing in the top four, they may look back at this result as one to be cherished. Should this game finish as thus, they will skip past Spurs into sixth spot, and will sit only one behind Southampton, and only two behind fourth-placed Manchester United. Things getting tight between third and seventh, with only four points separating those spots. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'79: Dummied by the first player, before Tadic somehow found the gap between Coutinho and Moreno in the wall. But Mignolet's positioning was precise, and he holds onto the low shot. He's been very solid in goal has the Belgian. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: Free kick given away by Moreno, who will enter the book for either the challenge or the backchat after the free kick award. It was an aggressive lunge at Mane. This is another presentable opportunity, to be taken by the new player Tadic. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'75: Tactically, Brendan Rodgers has pulled off a masterstroke here if his team can survive these 15 minutes with a two-goal lead. They have absorbed so much pressure from Southampton, and rebuffed them at every turn. Should they be down to 10 men? In my opinion yes, at least for Lovren's handball at the end of the first half. But they've been defensively superb, and Fraser Forster has had nothing to do all game except pick up the ball from inside the goalmouth. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'73: IT'S TWO, AND IT'S GAME OVER! RAHEEM STERLING! A rare foray forward by the Reds! Moreno found space to charge forward after a good layoff by the eventual goalscorer, and the pass back was mishandled by Djuricic, and fell back to Sterling who finished it off clinically! Game over! Game over to for Jordon Ibe and Filip Djuricic, as Glen Johnson and Dusan Tadic come in. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: Good run by Sturridge is intervened by the captain Fonte before the striker can pull the trigger! Vital from Fonte there. Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'70: Poor choice, as Schneiderlin opts to play it short for Djuricic, who wasn't expecting it, and as such, the rolled ball gently rolls out of play before the Serb can get there. Such anticipation for so little. Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: Henderson brings down Mane 30 yards and central outside the box. This after frenetic activity in and around the Liverpool penalty area, where Mignolet had nothing to do. He may have something now though. Schneiderlin overseeing this free kick. Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'67: Lovren brings down Schneiderlin, and incurs the foul, to the cheers of his former fans. Liverpool 1-0 Southampton