itsbeautifuloutside

Southampton 3

• Schneiderlin 6′
• Lambert 33′
• Rodriguez 80′

Not much to argue about here, apart from the odd scoring of a couple of players. In truth it was a wonderful game and Crash tells it like it is.

channonite

Match Report:

We were as good in this game as we were bad against QPR, that makes us very good indeed in this game, I was purring as were our midfield during this superlative display.

You know sometimes football games you enjoy are because the other team played rubbish and we put them to the sword (think Manchester city this year)? Well this wasn’t anything like that, Liverpool were okay, we didn’t let them play much but they were by no means as pathetic as man city were and we still put them to the sword… Fantastic stuff.

More In a minute

Player Ratings:

Boruc: Had a great game, mad Arthur made some very important saves and, some of them were more difficult than they looked, was very strong, came and claimed balls (and kept hold of them) and generally made himself the barrier we have been waiting to see goalkeeping for us for several bloody years now (respect to Kelvin but he hasn’t always looked impenetrable, Boruc pretty much did today). 7/10, did what he needed to do at the times he needed to do it, big up Mad Arthur, Sign him up for the next few years Don Cortese.

Yoshida: Maya was pretty good today, although his distribution is still patchy (I’m being generous here), his ability to read the game is pretty good and he did make some very good stops although there was one time (and really only one time, so this isn’t bad) when Suarez got the wrong side of him and Corky bailed him out. Good game though, 7/10.

Hooiveld: I wasn’t sure about him playing today, there’s games when he will be good (think Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch) and there are games when you wonder whether he is nimble enough (think Luis Suarez), actually he did okay today until he did what ever he did to himself, didn’t look comfortable coming off but a solid 6/10 for the amount of time he played.

Clyne: For me, this was the best I’ve seen this player, he was very good indeed. Tracking back, tackling, going forward, really starting to look what we all thought he could look like. A real candidate for man of the match, very impressed indeed with his defending, he must have really shown himself off to the watching England people. 9/10, he really was that good today.

Shaw: Another one, excellent today, much more the complete player just like Nathaniel but today what impressed me about Luke was his attacking play, he ran himself into the ground but before he did he really provides a great outlet down the left and not only that, he also managed to get back for three quarters of the match and cover his own position against some very pacey opposition in Downing. 9/10 another candidate for man of the match but started to flag towards the end, I guess he’s just showing his tender 17 years and in a couple more he will be an awesome machine!

Ramirez: Patchy, I’ve called him patchy before and he was kind of but he was also better, better than he has been in the last few games and showing some of that potential. I still believe he is carrying some kind of injury because he can’t do a whole game and it’s very obvious that he can’t but some of the moves he pulls off are simply spectacular, you watch the pass for the first goal, brilliant stuff. People slagged him a bit for disappearing but I think considering he’s obviously carrying something he is pretty impressive, 7.5/10 he can’t get a higher score because he didn’t play enough of the game but there are definite signs of him coming back and if we can sort that thigh out (or whatever the hell it is?) We will start to see our 12 million quid’s worth.

Jack Cork: I love this guy, he is simply spectacularly impressive, his game is what allows the rest of the team to sparkle and for me, that makes him sparkle. I keep giving him man of the match so I’m going to make a change today but let me just say I think this guy has got more than two hearts, and probably extra other bodily organs as well, really is the grease that makes the Southampton machine move smoothly and effectively. 9/10, my heart swells when I see him moving around the pitch, absolutely wonderful.

Schneiderlin: Much more like the Spiderman we all know and love, very impressive, with Corky purring along side him he just looked impressive. Finished off a beautiful move for the first goal and by and large bitched Allen & Gerard for the 95 minutes, simply wonderful and he was really showing what he can do today. 9/10, man of the match candidate yet again (we had a lot of them in this game).

Southampton

Possession

• Southampton 58%
• Liverpool 42%

Shots

• Southampton 17
• Liverpool 8

On target

• Southampton 12
• Liverpool 6

Corners

• Southampton 7
• Liverpool 5

Fouls

• Southampton 10
• Liverpool 10