LIVERPOOL vs. SOUTHAMPTON
2-1
Sunday 17th August
2014
When
the draw was made this game stood out as having the potential to be the tie
of the opening weekend. Not only are they the two overachieving teams
of last season, but Liverpool and Southampton have been in almost constant
negotiations ever since the final day of the 2013/14 league in May. Adam
Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren have all moved to the north-west, and
this was Southampton's opportunity to prove that, despite losing their manager
to Spurs, and a quite extraordinary exodus of their top players,
they could still cause the big teams trouble.
Liverpool
came away with spoils after a late strike by Daniel Sturridge won it, with
goals coming from Raheem Sterling in the first half, and the Saints' equaliser
via Nathaniel Clyne early in the second. It was a performance to be proud of
for the side from the south coast, though, as new manager Ronald Koeman nearly
inspired Southampton to a surprise victory at Anfield.
THE SYSTEMS
Both
sides turned out in very fluid 4-3-3 formations which changed shape throughout
the game, according to match scenario, pressure and possession. Liverpool's was
particularly interesting, as Brendan Rodgers' confidence in his midfield three of
Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson shone through in their positional play. In
possession, captain Steven Gerrard would roam the field, finding space in deep
areas to provide options for the back four to pass into while also joining the attack when opportunity allowed. The fluidity was best on show, though, when Liverpool
moved forward as a team.
The front three of Coutinho, Sterling and Sturridge all played relatively free roles and
gave trouble to the Southampton back line by switching marker and running an
incredible range of angles. On top of this, Liverpool always committed an
additional player from their midfield three, which demanded impressive
discipline from the remaining two. When Henderson stepped forward, Gerrard and
Lucas held back, when Gerrard moved up, Henderson retreated, and so on. With
wide threats constantly posed by Glen Johnson and new signing Javier Manquillo,
Rodgers had obviously made it clear that the holding pair needed to be able to
provide adequate cover for the defence, should the Saints have broken free.
In
the early exchanges Southampton were given two clear warnings that the
Liverpool forwards were always looking to get in behind, with Sturridge almost
finding Sterling in the 7th minute, and Gerrard coming within inches of picking
out Sturridge in the 9th. Southampton's notorious pressing game from last year
was not in effect, and it showed. With very little pressure on the ball around
the halfway line they were hoping that they could build fast counters around
the pace of Ward-Prowse and new boy Dušan Tadić. But this meant that the
Liverpool playmakers always had time to pick their pass, and, as expected,
Henderson set up Sterling with an immaculate through ball on the 23 minute
mark.
The Southampton
system was not dissimilar, but, perhaps because of the recent coming together
of the squad and manager, for the opening 45 minutes they simply were not as
well drilled. The midfield three were often over committed in attack and the
forward thinking full back pairing of Clyne and Bertrand were often caught out by
the ever chopping and changing Liverpool front four. Likewise, while the
excellent Victor Wanyama showed the discipline to hold his position in front of
the back line, his midfield cohorts Schneiderlin and Davis were too often
pressing forward and not willing, or not fit enough, to get back in time with
the Merseyside team's attacking onrush. That all seemed to change after the
break as, in the second period, the holes tightened up and Wanyama was
supported more fiercely by Davis in the middle of the park. After Clyne's goal,
set up by a beautiful backheel from the exciting Tadić, Liverpool became guilty
of over-committing themselves and, for long spells in the second half, the Saints looked
the more likely to nick it. Joe Allen replaced Lucas and holes began to appear
in the Liverpool midfield before both teams switched to a 4-4-2 with Shane Long
replacing Tadić and Lambert making his Liverpool debut in place of Coutinho,
who saw little of the ball once Wanyama began to man mark him. This was telling
as Lambert's physicality forced Southampton deeper when challenging for aerial
balls, and it was this that allowed Sturridge to stay onside and finish the
game in the 79th minute with a simple close range finish.
THE MOMENT
Southampton gave a performance full of grit and determination and were unlucky to come away from Anfield empty handed, and no player deserved a point or three for his performance more than the fantastic Victor Wanyama. He drew far too much praise from the commentary team to be today's Unsung Hero, but his challenge on Steven Gerrard in the 37th minute after Forster had gambled on leaving his box and given the ball straight to the Liverpool legend, couldn't be left unmentioned.
With Liverpool already a goal to the good and Southampton's lines stretched in search of an equaliser, gifting Gerrard a goal on the verge of halftime could have signaled the end of the game as a contest. Instead this perfectly timed challenge was the start of an attacking move from the away side, and allowed them to go in at the break with the game still within touching distance.
UNSUNG HERO
Not an easy choice in this game by any stretch but, for pure positional awareness and defensive discipline, Liverpool's holding midfielder Lucas is today's Unsung Hero.
While some Liverpool fans took to Twitter to lament his starting berth in the side, Lucas went about his business confidently and quietly and allowed Gerrard and Henderson to take turns moving into the attacking third of the pitch. He also worked hard to cover for Glen Johnson when the full back charged forward, taking up excellent positions that forced Southampton counters to slow, and giving the Reds time to regroup at the back. Having been replaced after an hour by Joe Allen, Lucas was missed in the final thirty minutes and the gaps that opened up in his place could have allowed Southampton, on another day, to snatch the points.
By Robbie Brown
NEXT TIME
That wraps up the first full weekend of League fixtures with only Chelsea and Burnley left to play tomorrow. We are now looking forward to next week's clash between Everton and Arsenal on Saturday evening in the forthcoming edition of Unsung Analysis.
(Unsung Analysis is looking for contributors!
If you're interested in covering games in the 'Unsung' style email
unsunganalysis@gmail.com
for details on how to get involved!)





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