Intro and Team News
IBO Reporter - Spot51
|I’ve watched Saints for over 50 years but, despite being used to the Ups and Downs of all things SFC, nothing prepared me for the completely Jekyll and Hyde nature of this season. At times, last Autumn, we were exceptional. No one wanted to play us and I found it somewhat ironic that Drew didn’t live long enough to see us sat Top of the Prem on what would have been his 65th birthday.
Since we last played Liverpool, we’ve been shite. Yes, we have not had much luck - with injuries, phantom Red Cards and a string of dodgy VAR calls. However, even with Vestergaard and Ings on the pitch we’ve often looked rudderless and failed to do the basics correctly. I’m fed up with reading the stats that demonstrate how awful we’ve been so I’m certainly not repeating them here.
Liverpool have also (by their standards) had a dodgy season. I’m not really a fan (but like Klopp and Mané) yet I could not deny they deserved their title last season. This season has been very much “after the Lord Mayor’s show” at Anfield. I’m still amazed that Pickford’s assault on Virgil went unpunished and Liverpool’s inability to keep any of their centre-backs fit has hamstrung their current campaign. Playing Henderson and Fabinho there might have shored up the defence but it also weakened their midfield. Virgil is back in Training but not expected to be involved yet. Expect a 20m cameo in their last game against Palace.
Minimino is still a Scouser so will not be available for us. Word is the Klopp wants him back for their summer training camp to reassess him but if the Japan Olympics go ahead, he’ll be needed there. Big Jan’s ridiculous red card was rescinded so we can pretty much field the side that started against Leicester with Theo replacing Mini. We’ll be wearing the “Lucky” white kit.
It IS football so anything can happen and I’d settle for a competitive match with both sides scoring. I’d like an away win. That would see us doubling the current champions for the 3rd time. Last time we had Kevin Friend (on VAR) at West Brom he kept their score down. Today he is the Ref. Fingers crossed.
Diallo and Obafemi (returning after a long injury) were second half subs, but didn't really change the impetus of the game in Saints favour
Liverpool
- 1 Alisson
- 66 Alexander-Arnold
- 47 Phillips
- 46 R Williams
- 26 Robertson
- 6 Thiago Alcántara
- 3 Fabinho
- 5 Wijnaldum
- 11 Salah (Oxlade-Chamberlain 87')
- 20 Jota (Firmino 79')
- 10 Mané (Jones 90'+3)
Substitutes
- 9 Firmino
- 13 Adrián
- 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 17 Jones
- 21 Tsimikas
- 23 Shaqiri
- 58 Woodburn
- 76 N Williams
- 89 Koumetio

Southampton
- 44 Forster
- 2 Walker-Peters
- 35 Bednarek
- 4 Vestergaard
- 5 Stephens
- 32 Walcott (Diallo 66')
- 8 Ward-Prowse
- 17 Armstrong
- 11 Redmond - Booked 61'
- 10 Adams (Djenepo 79')
- 23 Tella (Obafemi 66')
Substitutes
- 1 McCarthy
- 12 Djenepo
- 14 Obafemi
- 22 Salisu
- 27 Diallo
- 31 Ramsay
- 40 N'Lundulu
- 47 Ferry
- 64 Jankewitz
