Déjà Vu Draw For LFC At St James' Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - NUFC 1:1 LFC

Liverpool were held to yet another frustrating draw, 1-1 against Newcastle at St James' Park, dropping two points against former Red boss Rafael Benitez in the Super Sunday clash.

Philippe Coutinho gave the visitors the lead with just under half an hour gone, a smacker from 25 yards out, giving keeper Rob Elliot no chance.

It was the Brazilian's 17th goal from outside the box in the Premier League - three more than any other player since his debut in February 2013, giving LFC a deserved lead as Jürgen Klopp's men were dominating possession, play and chances, as always.

But that didn't last long, just seven minutes later, former Red Jonjo Shelvey's fine cross found Joselu, who was able to break too easily between Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip, the latter desperately running back, kicking the ball against the Magpie and in, rolling over the line oh so slowly to make it 1-1.

The Merseysiders have conceded nine goals in the last four Premier League games, as many as in their previous 12 matches!

It was so so so agonising for the Reds, chance after chance going to waste for themselves and then the lead given away so easily, ringing very familiar bells after the frustrating draw in Moscow.

Daniel Sturridge got a rare start, wasting chance after chance. The striker has only scored 10 Premier League goals in the two years under Klopp.

Mohamed Salah created plenty, wasted chances too though, Georginio Wijnaldum coming close as well and Sadio Mané back after suspension with not much to shout about.

After the break, Liverpool continued dominating, but Newcastle kept them at bay.

Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had the best chance late on, heading over, whilst Mohamed Diamé came close for the homeside off a corner in the dying seconds.

The Reds have had 126 shots on goal in six games in September, with only 34 on target and just one win in all competitions.

October started just as frustrating, dropping another two points, although Liverpool haven't lost a Premier League game in October for the last seven years.

I'm going sober for October - please click here to help and sponsor me and Macmillan Cancer Support!

The international break will give everyone a breather - remember how rosy everything was before the last internationals after thrashing Arsenal?

Fingers crossed, there will be no injuries and the Reds can reshuffle, reform and rekindle their fire and form.

They better do so, because the next opponents are: Manchester United!

Newcastle goal: Joselu 36'.

Liverpool goal: Coutinho 29'.

Newcastle team: 1 Elliot, 22 Yedlin, 6 Lascelles, 2 Clark, 19 Manquillo, 23 Merino (14 Hayden 74'), 8 Shelvey, 11 Ritchie, 30 Atsu, 17 Pérez (booked 55') (10 Diamé 90'+1'), 21 Joselu (9 Gayle 79').
Subs not used: 26 Darlow, 27 Gámez, 20 Lejeune, 7 Murphy.

LFC team: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez (booked 58'), 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno, 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnaldum, 10 Coutinho, 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 84'), 19 Mané (29 Solanke 74'), 15 Sturridge (9 Firmino 74').
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 23 Can.

Match Stats: NUFC 1-1 LFC
Possession: 32%-68%
Shots: 8-17
On target: 5-2
Corners: 1-5
Fouls: 11-6
Yellow cards: 1-1

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho
Ground: St James' Park
Attendance: 52,303

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and Sky Sports match coverage.

FT Notes: Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Champions League - Qualifier

PRE-MATCH NOTES

The venue: the 30,000-capacity Rhein-Neckar Arena. Sold out within 17 minutes for this tie.

Hoffenheim won 11 and drew six of their 17 games there last season.

Their dangerman is former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric, who scored 18 goals for them last season. Sandro Wagner, who starts alongside him in attack, bagged 12.

One person who certainly knows all about Hoffenheim is Roberto Firmino.

The Liverpool forward spent four years at the German club, scoring 49 goals in 153 appearances, before moving to the Reds in 2015.

Liverpool will look to Firminio to provide creativity in the absence of Coutinho.

ZDF: 1st European Cup tie for Hoffenheim, 333rd for Liverpool. #YNWA
BBC: While this is Hoffenheim's very first game in Europe it is Liverpool's 364th and 182nd in the Champions League/European Cup. Hm... Who's counting...

Hoffenheim were the only side Klopp's Borussia Dortmund failed to beat in the league in his first title winning season of 2010-11!

ZDF point finger at "Wackelkandidat" Simon Mignolet and same old defensive problems for draw at Watford. And transfer fiasco.

Klopp: "We need more players than money!" Clear dig at Coutinho! And owners!

MATCH NOTES - THE MAIN BITS:

3' SALAH GOAL - OFFSIDE FLAG WAS UP!!! Pfff...

10' PENALTY given by the assistant not the referee! Dejan Lovren v Serge Gnabry, eventhough it looked offside, tumbled down & got the penalty! Clumsy but OH SO SOFT!

11' Nr 27 Andrej Kramaric takes, SIMON MIGNOLET SAVES!!! Too easy to the keeper's left, but curling towards him! #TFFT

15' Mohamed Salah breaks on his own, shoots wide! Skipper Kevin Vogt was catching up trying to make up for his error, but it was one-to-one with keeper Baumann... #waste

26' Kaderabek sends a shot high from the right edge of the box. Closest either side has come for a while...

28' Hoffenheim free kick, Gnabry takes from about 25 yards out, into the box, cleared.

34' First European booking goes to Hoffenheim's number 4 Ermin Bicakcic after bringing down Salah about six yards outside the box.

35' WHAT A FREE KICK!!! FIRST EUROPEAN GAME, FIRST EUROPEAN GOAL FOR RED YOUNGSTER TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD! Right foot, over the wall, into the right corner of the net! Nice one! #YEAH #TAA 👊⚽👊 #BOOM #DANKE

40' That goal has calmed some nerves! More possession for the Reds now & settled play, less frantic & all over the place!

43' GNABRYYY denied by Simon Mignolet & Sandro Wagner puts the rebound just wide! The German commentator got loud there!

1 minute added on. Hoffenheim with the ball. Pressing. Pushing. But lose out the ball.

Liverpool counter, Mané v Vogt, the latter does well to kick the ball out for a corner.

LOVREN HEADS THE CORNER WIDE!!!

That was the last action before the break. HT Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool. AND BREATH!!!

HT Stats:
Possession: 61%-39%
Shots: 6-6
On target: 2-3
Corners: 0-2
Fouls: 6-8
Yellow cards: 1-0

The home side did well & dominated most of the game, only behind thanks to a TAA cracker!

Klopp will be happier with the away goal, but still worried with the shaky defence! At least Mignolet has kept strong! #sofarsogood #fingerscrossed

46' Hoffenheim kick off the second half & break & push straight away, but Wagner is flagged offside. No changes made by either side during the interval.

47' Mané crossed into the box from the left to FIRMINOOOO, what a chance from close range but it is blocked/deflected out for a corner, well done by keeper Oliver Baumann.

49' Salah from the right, defended nicely by Zuber winning the ball back.

50' GNABRYYY GOAL - OFFSIDE, cruel, I know, not the best play by Wagner, under pressure by the Reds this time. Makes a change! 😝

51' Emre Can booked for pushing down Demirbay.

52' First Hoffenheim change: 6 Håvard Nordtveit replaces 4 Ermine Bicakcic.

53' First Hoffenheim corner, the commentator reels down the negative stats the Reds have with set pieces. Nothing comes from it, out wide.

53' Second change made by young boss Nagelsmann, who likes to reshape his side after the break according to the commentator. 18 Nadiem Amiri comes on for 7 Lukas Rupp.

55' Second Hoffenheim corner, blocked and cleared.

55' TAA gets his first booking too, free kick on the left for the home side, cleared again.

62' James Milner getting ready to replace Jordan Henderson.

63' Change made & the captain's armband is handed over in the process.

64' Hoffenheim free kick out for a throw-in on the left. Possession & pressure all Hoffenheim... The home side win another corner. #gulp

65' Demirbay takes, Matip defends it out for another corner on the other side. Demirbay again, headed away this time. Clear. Breath.

66' GNABRY AGAIN unmarked in the box, smacks it high.

67' A Liverpool corner for a change! TAA takes it, Lovren, ball eventually goes out for a goal kick. TAA appealed for a free kick outside the box there, but, it wasn't much. A bit like the penalty...

70' SALAH SHOT soft, easily kept out by Baumann, corner for Liverpool. Last Hoffenheim substitution: 19 Uth replaces 29 Gnabry, who was MOTM for me! Great performance for the German side, created a lot, dominated the pitch! 

Keeper holds onto the ball off the corner.

74' MILNER NETS FROM THE LEFT, nice curl, deflected in by Nordtveit, 0-2, thank you very much, vielen Dank! ⚽👊⚽

76' Benjamin Hübner booked for bringing down Firmino. Salah eventually loses the ball at the edge of the box.

80' The German commentator points out how quickly Liverpool took the free kick after Mané was brought down, repeating again & again that the ball didn't stop moving... Advantage attacking team, no? Nein?

82' NICE SAVE BY MIGNOLET denying sub Amiri from close range, what a chance! Where is the marking?!?!?!

84' MANÉÉÉ wide, another chance wasted from close range. Solanke makes his Red debut in Europe replacing Firmino, strong performance by the number 9. Even the German commentator is full of laud.

86' First fans leaving the stadium. Nicht gut.

87' GOAL FOR THE HOME SIDE sub Uth finds the breakthrough, nice left-footer into the right corner of the net. TAA failed to cover there & Matip runs in to cover way too late... Reminds me of Saturday... 💩🙈💩🙈💩 1-2

89' Last substitution for Reds, Grujic on for Mané. Whilst I write this Hoffenheim come close again, pushing it late on... Liverpool flagged offside...

4 MINUTES ADDED ON!!! Hoffenheim free kick, headed high by Hübner. The German commentator got really loud then! What a chance! Tense finish... 🙈😱🙈😱🙈

All Hoffenheim...

Demirbay down injured... After Grujic's challenge... Nagelsmann not happy...

Last minute... Liverpool with the ball... GRUJIC SHOT gloved away by Baumann.

Hoffenheim want another free kick... Didn't see anything... YNWA echoes in the background... FT whistle blows, Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool.

Confident, strong & dominant performance by the home side, but not clinical enough in front of goal.

Under-fire Mignolet kept the Reds ahead thanks to a couple of good stops, including a spot kick denying Kramaric! MOTM?

TAA's goal was a cracking free kick, congratulations! Experienced Milner doubled the lead off the bench. And I've just seen it's been listed as a Nordtveit own goal. Harsh.

We had to leak one at the end, sub Uth netting late on to make the last minutes tense. But Hoffenheim deserved at least something.

So, we can take a one-goal lead & two away goals to Anfield, that should do it, no? #COYR ⚽👊⚽ #BOOM

Klopp just calls it half-time in the post-match interview & lauds his keeper, keeper coach, the opposition & Nagelsmann. Both managers stay optimistic & are happy with their sides' performances. You can see how much it meant to the Germans. 🇩🇪😊🇬🇧

FT Stats:
Hoffenheim 1: Uth 87'.
Liverpool 2: Alexander-Arnold 35' & Nordtveit OG 74'.
Possession: 63%-37%
Shots: 13-14
On target: 4-8
Corners: 6-5
Fouls: 13-12
Yellow cards: 2-2

1899 Hoffenheim XI: 1 Baumann, 22 Vogt, 4 Bicakcic (booked 34') (6 Nordtveit 52'), 21 Hübner (booked 76'), 3 Kaderabek, 10 Demirbay, 7 Rupp (18 Amiri 53'), 17 Zuber, 29 Gnabry (19 Uth 70'), 14 Wagner, 27 Kramaric. 3-4-3
Substitutes not used: 15 Toljan, 28 Szalai, 32 Geiger, 36 Kobel.

Manager: Julian Nagelsmann = youngest Bundesliga manager with 30!

Liverpool XI: 22 Mignolet, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 55'), 6 Lovren, 32 Matip, 18 Moreno, 14 Henderson (7 Milner 63'), 23 Can (booked 51'), 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah, 19 Mané (16 Grujic 89'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 84'). 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 1 Karius, 12 Gomez, 17 Klavan, 27 Origi.
Manager: Jürgen Klopp

Referee: Björn Kuipers

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Notes, stats and facts taken from Twitter, BBC and ZDF coverage.

HT Notes: Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool

Sports - Football - Champions League - Qualifier

PRE-MATCH NOTES

The venue: the 30,000-capacity Rhein-Neckar Arena. Sold out within 17 minutes for this tie.

Hoffenheim won 11 and drew six of their 17 games there last season.

Their dangerman is former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric, who scored 18 goals for them last season. Sandro Wagner, who starts alongside him in attack, bagged 12.

One person who certainly knows all about Hoffenheim is Roberto Firmino.

The Liverpool forward spent four years at the German club, scoring 49 goals in 153 appearances, before moving to the Reds in 2015.

Liverpool will look to Firminio to provide creativity in the absence of Coutinho.

ZDF: 1st European Cup tie for Hoffenheim, 333rd for Liverpool. #YNWA 

BBC: While this is Hoffenheim's very first game in Europe it is Liverpool's 364th and 182nd in the Champions League/European Cup. Hm... Who's counting...

Hoffenheim were the only side Klopp's Borussia Dortmund failed to beat in the league in his first title winning season of 2010-11!

ZDF point finger at "Wackelkandidat" Simon Mignolet and same old defensive problems for draw at Watford. And transfer fiasco.

Klopp: "We need more players than money!" Clear dig at Coutinho! And owners!

MATCH NOTES - THE MAIN BITS:

3' SALAH GOAL - OFFSIDE FLAG WAS UP!!! Pfff...

10' PENALTY given by the assistant not the referee! Dejan Lovren v Serge Gnabry, eventhough it looked offside, tumbled down & got the penalty! Clumsy but OH SO SOFT!

11' Nr 27 Andrej Kramaric takes, SIMON MIGNOLET SAVES!!! Too easy to the keeper's left, but curling towards him! #TFFT

15' Mohamed Salah breaks on his own, shoots wide! Skipper Kevin Vogt was catching up trying to make up for his error, but it was one-to-one with keeper Baumann... #waste

26' Kaderabek sends a shot high from the right edge of the box. Closest either side has come for a while...

28' Hoffenheim free kick, Gnabry takes from about 25 yards out, into the box, cleared.

34' First European booking goes to Hoffenheim's number 4 Ermin Bicakcic after bringing down Salah about six yards outside the box.

35' WHAT A FREE KICK!!! FIRST EUROPEAN GAME, FIRST EUROPEAN GOAL FOR RED YOUNGSTER TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD! Right foot, over the wall, into the right corner of the net! Nice one! #YEAH #TAA 👊⚽👊 #BOOM #DANKE

40' That goal has calmed some nerves! More possession for the Reds now & settled play, less frantic & all over the place!

43' GNABRYYY denied by Simon Mignolet & Sandro Wagner puts the rebound just wide! The German commentator got loud there!

1 minute added on. Hoffenheim with the ball. Pressing. Pushing. But lose out the ball. Liverpool counter, Mané v Vogt, the latter does well to kick the ball out for a corner.

LOVREN HEADS THE CORNER WIDE!!!

That was the last action before the break. HT Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool. AND BREATH!!!

HT Stats:
Possession: 61%-39%
Shots: 6-6
On target: 2-3
Corners: 0-2
Fouls: 6-8
Yellow cards: 1-0

The home side did well & dominated most of the game, only behind thanks to a TAA cracker!

Klopp will be happier with the away goal, but still worried with the shaky defence! At least Mignolet has kept strong! #sofarsogood #fingerscrossed

1899 Hoffenheim XI: 1 Baumann, 22 Vogt, 4 Bicakcic (booked 34'), 21 Hübner, 3 Kaderabek, 10 Demirbay, 7 Rupp, 17 Zuber, 29 Gnabry, 14 Wagner, 27 Kramaric. 3-4-3
Substitutes: 6 Nordtveit, 15 Toljan, 18 Amiri,  19 Uth, 28 Szalai, 32 Geiger, 36 Kobel.
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann = youngest Bundesliga manager with 30!

Liverpool XI: 22 Mignolet, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 6 Lovren, 32 Matip, 18 Moreno, 14 Henderson, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah, 19 Mané, 9 Firmino. 4-3-3
Substitutes: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 12 Gomez, 16 Grujic, 17 Klavan, 27 Origi, 29 Solanke.
Manager: Jürgen Klopp

Referee: Björn Kuipers

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Notes, stats and facts taken from Twitter, BBC & ZDF coverage.

Reds Drop 2 Points In PL Opener

Sports - Football - Premier League - WFC 3:3 LFC

Liverpool's all too familiar defensive frailties showed as they dropped two points in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Watford in the early kick-off on Saturday.

Manager Marco Silva will have been very happy seeing his side fight out a draw with some great stamina and character in his debut match at Vicarage Road.

The home side took an early lead after eight minutes thanks to Italian striker Stefano Okaka's header and the Reds' non-existent defence.

Red forward Sadio Mané levelled the score with just under half an hour gone, a moment of brilliance, a fantastic diagonal finish from inside the box into the top right corner of the net.

But not even three minutes later, youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold was unable to clear and French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré put the Hornets ahead again ruthlessly.

Man of the match Roberto Firmino's penalty kick levelled the score again shortly after the break, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-2.

And it was debutant Mohamed Salah again, minutes after winning the penalty, who pounced and tapped one in to give Jürgen Klopp's men the lead for the first time, 2-3.

The visitors pushed and dominated from there, Joel Matip hit the bar and Dejan Lovren forced a good save out of Heurelho Gomes, before Simon Mignolet made a crucial save, conceding a corner late on.

And it was that set piece that broke Liverpool once again, headed over the line by Uruguayan defender Miguel Britos after the Red keeper had gloved it, making it 3-3 in the 93rd minute.

Thoughts: Clumsy, cringy goals, but they all count!

Some argued the latter two Watford goals should have been flagged and disallowed offside.

I feel it still doesn't cover how Liverpool were torn to bits at the back, Mignolet just left picking up the pieces.

The Reds have a great, hungry, dangerous attack at the front, but are all worthless and cracked to bits with the defence unable to do their job.

No one covered the opposition players, they were left free to roam.

By the time any one even just thought of intervening, it was too late.

Familiar failings by the Reds, even Klopp didn't show any reaction at the late enqualiser.

And of course Philippe Coutinho was the hot topic after his transfer request was rejected on Friday, not even 24 hours before kick-off.

Will he stay? Will he go? Yes or no, before or after, the Reds knew before and know after which positions need filling and strengthening... And the transfer window is open till end of the month... So... A lot can still happen...!!!

Anyhow, anyway, this was a faire result for Silva and Co, who worked hard and didn't deserve to lose, denying the Reds their fifth consecutive season opening win!

And there is not much rest for the Reds, as they face Hoffenheim in their Champions League qualifier on Tuesday.

Watford Goals: Okaka 8', Doucouré 32', Britos 90'+3.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 29', Firmino pen 55', Salah 57'.

Watford Team: 1 Gomes, 2 Janmaat (21 Femenía Far 18'), 4 Kaboul, 3 Britos, 25 Holebas, 8 Cleverley, 16 Doucouré, 14 Chalobah, 7 Amrabat, 33 Okaka (18 Gray 63'), 37 Pereyra (11 de Andrade 49').
Subs not used: 5 Prödl, 23 Watson, 29 Capoue, 30 Pantilimon.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet (booked 88'), 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 61') (12 Gomez 90+1'), 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno, 23 Can, 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah (7 Milner 86'), 9 Firmino (27 Origi 81'), 19 Mané (booked 37').
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 16 Grujic, 17 Klavan, 29 Solanke.

Match Stats: WFC 3-3 LFC
Possession: 46%-54%
Shots: 9-14
On target: 4-5
Corners: 3-3
Fouls: 14-8
Yellow cards: 0-3

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 20,407

Click here to read my previous LFC match report.

Pictures, facts and stats taken from the MOTD coverage and BBC match report.

1st Pre-Season Friendly: TRFC 0-4 LFC

Sports - Football - Pre-Season - TRFC 0-4 LFC

Liverpool warmed up nicely and strongly in their first 2017-18 pre-season friendly, thrashing Tranmere Rovers 4-0 at Prenton Park.

It was a good chance for Reds manager Jürgen Klopp to give all of his players their first run around after just eight days of training back from the summer holidays, making ten changes after the interval.

Both halves were dominated by the visitors, with possession and chances galore.

Micky Mellon's side were made to work hard and gave their all, goalkeeper Scott Davies and the back line keeping well and solid...

Until James Milner broke the deadlock from the spot with just over half an hour gone after Tranmere stopper Davies brought down Sheyi Ojo in the box.

Marko Grujic doubled Liverpool's lead with a cracker a few minutes before the break, picking up the ball from 30 yards out, working his way through and finishing off nicely.

All changes brought a new and fresh wave of dominance and opportunities for the Reds, Pedro Chirivella netting nicely four minutes into the second half after Dominic Solanke's turn and shot.

And youngster Ben Woodburn converted Liverpool's second penalty sealing the deal making it 0-4 to the visitors after the Welsh midfielder was fouled in the box by Davies.

No discrediting the National League side, but the result reflects the Red dominance and nice start to the pre-season warmup.

Liverpool Goals: Milner pen 33', Grujic 41', Chirivella 49' & Woodburn pen 79'.

Tranmere Rovers lineup: 1 Davies*; 3 Ridehalgh*, 6 Sutton, 5 McNulty, 2 Buxton, 7 Duggan*; 11 Norburn*, 18 Hughes, 8 Harris*; 10 Norwood*, 9 Cook*. 5-3-2
Subs: 11 Jennings*, 25 Pilling*, 14 Clarke*, 15 Gumbs, 16 Dunn*, 17 Solomon, 4 Owusu*, 19 Mangan*, 20 Rokka*.

Liverpool 1st half lineup: 1 Karius; 7 Milner, 21 Lucas, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 6 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson, 16 Grujic; 15 Sturridge, 9 Firmino, 54 Ojo. 4-3-3
Subs: 2 Clyne, 12 Gomez, 17 Klavan, 29 Solanke, 35 Stewart, 38 Flanagan, 40 Kent, 50 Markovic, 56 Randall, 58 Woodburn, 68 Chirivella, 73 Grabara.

Liverpool 2nd half lineup: 1 Karius*; 38 Flanagan, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 2 Clyne; 58 Woodburn, 35 Stewart, 68 Chirivella; 40 Kent, 29 Solanke, 50 Markovic. 4-3-3
Subs: 56 Randall, 73 Grabara*.

*Subs made in the second half

Match Stats: TRFC 0-4 LFC
Shots: 6-21
On target: 2-10
Offside: 2-0
Corners: 0-8
Tackles: 20-12
Tackles won: 80%-10%
Free kicks: 12-11
Bookings: 0-0
Possession: 30.2%-69.8%
Passes: 306-696
Passing accuracy: 73.5%-92.2%
Crosses: 9-33
Successful crosses: 11.1%-15.2%

Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Ground: Prenton Park

Click here to read my last LFC match report.

Pictures, stats and facts taken from the LFC matchday blog and LFCTV match coverage.

Milner Pen Miss Costs Reds Two Points

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 0:0 SFC

James Milner's first penalty miss in a Liverpool shirt dealt his club a big blow in their race to stay in the top four by dropping more points after a goalless draw against Southampton.

Anfield was tense and silent, frustrated and disappointed once again, in a game that did not have much else to show for or report about, too much like their last home disappointment against Palace a couple of weeks ago.

The Reds looked tired and slow and rarely tested Saints keeper Fraser Forster, whilst the visitors didn't even record an attempt at all in the first half, nothing on target in the whole match, keeping the back line long and strong.

Over an hour had passed when Emre Can's passionate appeal for a penalty against Jack Stephens handling the ball ended up in celebrations as the referee pointed to the spot.

But the celebrations didn't last long. Milner, waiting in Forster's shadow to place the ball on the spot, seemed to have been cracked by the England keeper's mind games, seeing his spot-kick saved and gloved away to the stopper's right.

The Reds' deputy skipper looked devastated after his first penalty miss since November 2009, whilst Forster was celebrated for his first penalty save in the Premier League (Milner's being the ninth one faced).

The only other chance of note for the Reds came in stoppage time, man of the match Forster keeping out substitute Marko Grujic's header from close range.

It was just not to be. Simon Mignolet on the other hand, had one lucky escape late on, gloving the ball away on the edge of the box, replays showing the LFC keeper was over the line outside his area.

Reds boss Jürgen Klopp was his usual mental self, shouting, grimacing and arguing with the officials throughout.

Saints manager Claude Puel is unbeaten against his German counterpart, having played Liverpool four times this season, conceding not a single goal.

It's the first time since 2008-09 that Liverpool have recorded a goalless draw home and away against the same opponent in the Premier League.

Klopp has never beaten Southampton in the Premier League (D3, L1), having faced them more than any other opponent without winning.

The draw sees Saints drop to 10th with a couple of games in hand, whilst Liverpool stay third, keeping control of their Champions League faith after seeing Arsenal beat Manchester United the same afternoon.

But the Reds can only keep control if they take control, which has not been the case at home lately, none of the famous pressing and gegenpressing, just slow kick-about and blank stares after yet another miss/mess-up!

On a more positive note, Liverpool are already 10 points better off than the end of last season, with two games still left to play!

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 33 Matip, 6 Lovren (booked), 7 Milner, 23 Can, 21 Lucas (20 Lallana 69'), 5 Wijnaldum (16 Grujic 87'), 11 Firmino, 27 Origi (15 Sturridge 69'), 10 Coutinho. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 17 Klavan, 18 Moreno, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Southampton Team: 1 Forster, 2 Soares (booked), 24 Stephens, 3 Yoshida, 21 Bertrand (booked), 11 Tadic, 8 Davis, 14 Romeu, 16 Ward-Prowse (booked), 19 Boufal (22 Redmond 60'), 20 Gabbiadini (7 Long 69'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 9 Rodriguez, 12 Cáceres, 23 Højbjerg, 26 Pied, 40 Hassen.

1st & 2nd half stats: LFC-SFC
Score: 0-0 & 0-0
Possession: 66%-34% & 65%-35%
Shots: 5-0 & 17-4
On target: 3-0 & 8-0
Corners: 1-1 & 3-6
Fouls: 4-2 & 9-4
Bookings: 0-0 & 1-3

Referee: Robert Madley
Man of the match: Fraser Forster
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,159

Click here to read my last LFC match report.

All pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report.

Can's Acrobatic Winner Stuns Watford

Sports - Football - Premier League - WFC 0:1 LFC

Emre Can's extraordinary acrobatic volley, his fifth goal of the season, decided an otherwise ordinary game at Watford, handing Liverpool a crucial 0-1 away win in their race to stay in the Premier League top four.

The German midfielder stunned everyone at Vicarage Road, meeting Lucas Leiva's cross with a beautiful right-footed overhead bicycle-kick into the top-left corner, giving goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes no chance, two minutes into stoppage time before the break.

That has taken the Reds' goal tally in the last 15 minutes before the interval to 16 this season, more than any other side, one more than Manchester United and Tottenham.

Before that, not much else happened, both sides recording just a shot on target each, Can with another strong attempt from 25 yards out in the 20th minute, but not much else to worry either keeper much.

Adam Lallana, who had to be brought on for an injured Philippe Coutinho in the 13th minute returning from injury himself after five matches out, had come closest just a few minutes before Can's stunner, seeing his attempt from outside the box come off the crossbar.

The second half was dominated by both keepers' strong displays, strength and presence.

Gomes denied James Milner, Divock Origi and then substitute Daniel Sturridge late on in a tense ending to the game.

Simon Mignolet kept solid as well, frustrating the Hornets, Etienne Capoue and Sebastian Prödl especially, who both were booked for their anger at the decisions that went against them, the latter also seeing his effort come off the crossbar in the final seconds.

Vicarage Road was loud, the away end even louder, louder than Anfield last week after the miserable defeat against Crystal Palace, YNWA echoing around the ground at the end.

Both managers Walter Mazzarri and Jürgen Klopp made themselves heard and seen throughout the game as well, with shouts and gestures, to keep everyone entertained when not much else was happening on the pitch.

The result sees Watford drop to 13th on 40 points with a game in hand on the other teams around them, whilst Liverpool remain third three and four points ahead of Manchester City and United in fourth and fifth respectively, both with a game in hand.

So, after all the other results went their way, as long as the Reds keep winning their final three league games and don't repeat an embarrassing slip up like against Crystal Palace, the Champions League qualification is in their hands!

The last three games are: Southampton at home (Sunday 7th May), West Ham away (Sunday 14th May) and Middlesbrough at home (Sunday 21st May). Easy. You would think.

It never is easy with Liverpool though!

Liverpool Goal: Can 45'+2'.

Watford Team: 1 Gomes, 6 Mariappa, 5 Prödl (booked), 3 Britos (27 Kabasele 19'), 7 Amrabat (33 Okaka 85'), 29 Capoue (booked) (10 Success 73' (booked)), 16 Doucouré, 8 Cleverley, 22 Janmaat, 9 Deeney, 21 Niang.
Subs not used: 11 Behrami, 18 Zuñiga, 30 Pantilimon, 42 Eleftheriou.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 7 Milner, 21 Lucas (booked), 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 11 Firmino, 27 Origi (15 Sturridge 84'), 10 Coutinho (20 Lallana 13' (17 Klavan 87')).
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 16 Grujic, 18 Moreno, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

HT & FT Match Stats: WFC-LFC
Score: 0-1 & 0-1
Possession: 36%-64% & 40%-60%
Shots: 3-5 & 9-12
On target: 1-2 & 2-8
Corners: 1-1 & 3-5
Fouls: 4-4 & 11-9
Bookings: 0-1 & 3-1

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Emre Can
Ground: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 20,959

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures and stats are taken from the BBC match report.

Benteke Double Downs Dire Reds

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 1:2 CPFC

Crystal Palace made it six wins out of eight league games after seeing Christian Benteke's double haunt and down his former side Liverpool 1-2 on a sunny Super Sunday on Merseyside.

The win at Anfield sees Big Sam's side onto 38 points, seven clear of danger, whilst Jürgen Klopp is left scratching his head, watching his side failing and falling miserably against a lower side once again.

Apart from Philippe Coutinho's fine free-kick halfway through the first half, there was not much to cheer for the Reds, looking worn and torn, labouring 72% possession but not creating much.

The players just could not connect. Coutinho was the only one who looked able to do anything with the ball. The rest just looked clueless.

Passing, looking, passing, looking, passing, looking, passing, looking, passing, looking,...

Losing out to a much more stubborn, strong and set side that know what they want: WIN! Or not lose, that's for sure!

Man of the match Benteke made his presence felt in the final third and levelled the score a couple of minutes before the break with a nice strike into the top of the net.

That took a lot of steam out of the Anfield train. It derailed totally in the second half. Liverpool did not look dangerous, in control or in with a real chance at any point.

Just over 15 minutes to go, the former Red Belgian striker headed the winner in with too much space off a corner, Liverpool's defence all over the place, the Kop stunned to silence. Not happy.

Klopp did make all three changes after that smack in the face, all attacking, but it was all too little too late.

Palace have now won on their last three league trips to Anfield - the first team to do so since Chelsea in October 2005.

Liverpool stay in third, three points behind Tottenham in second, two and three points ahead of City and United in fourth and fifth respectively.

However, Spurs and both Manchester sides have two games in hand! TWO! Not good. Nicht gut.

It was one of the worst games I've been to at Anfield - and I've seen us get hammered by the Great Gunners (back in those Thierry Henry days).

We just didn't look or sound like we wanted to be there or get anything out of the game.

No YNWA at the end of the game. Just an empty stadium as soon as the full time whistle blew. I did not like that. At all.

I always loved Anfield and the Kop cause we stick with our side no matter what. Walk on. Not walk off.

This time it looked and sounded more like the latter. Klopp needs to change something, find someone, to change that! To get the spark back!

Is it because of our main players like Sadio Mané or Jordan Henderson are missing?

But there should still be some will or determination, aspiration or hunger to play and prove yourself and win!

I didn't see or hear any of that on Sunday! And with only four games left to play for the Reds, it looks very bleak and I really doubt our chances of finishing in the top four!

Liverpool Goal: Coutinho 24'.

Crystal Palace Goals: Benteke 42' & 74'.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne (16 Grujic 84', booked), 32 Matip, 6 Lovren (66 Alexander-Arnold 79'), 7 Milner (18 Moreno 82'), 23 Can, 21 Lucas, 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Firmino, 27 Origi, 10 Coutinho.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 12 Gomes, 57 Brewster, 58 Woodburn.

Crystal Palace Team: 13 Hennessey, 2 Ward, 34 Kelly, 5 Tomkins, 31 Schlupp, 28 Milivojevic (booked), 11 Zaha (3 van Aanholt 78'), 7 Cabaye (27 Delaney 83'), 42 Puncheon, 10 Townsend, 17 Benteke (booked, 9 Campbell 88').
Subs not used: 1 Speroni, 4 Flamini,  18 McArthur, 26 Sako.

Referee: Andre Marriner
Man Of The Match: Christian Benteke
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,086

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats are taken from the BBC match report.

Liverpool Win "Ugly" Against Burnley

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 2:1 BFC

Liverpool came back from behind to record their third consecutive home win in the league beating Burnley 2-1 at Anfield.

Click here for my full ByTheMin coverage of the game.

The home side didn't create a single chance in the opening half an hour and it looked like yet another shocking defeat when Sean Dyche's men took the lead early on at Anfield thanks to Ashley Barnes, who had a smashing game, in more than one way.

The 27-year-old forward was always on the opponents' case, playing the good old physical game, pushing, pressing, creating, producing and could have scored more.

He gave the Clarets the lead just seven minutes in, connecting to the brilliant pass in from Matthew Lowton and netting it with his right foot sliding in.

It looked like the visitors were bossing it and could have taken a nice dominant and deserved lead into the break.

But Georginio Wijnaldum levelled the score in added time just before the interval, putting Divock Origi's cross from the left past Ben Mee who was on his knees from close range.

The second half grew more and more frustrating for the Reds, Anfield growing more and more tense.

But Emre Can denied the Clarets the league double over the Reds, making it 2-1 just past the hour-mark with a low right-footed shot off the post into the corner of the net, the Merseysiders recording their first "ugly" win as manager Jürgen Klopp put it.

The goal came out of nowhere, shortly after the German boss had made his first substitution, bringing on Academy youngster Ben Woodburn for Philippe Coutinho. Klopp was obviously not happy.

The more relieved the Kop could be about recording three points, especially after all the media focus on their lack of form against the lower sides.

It's Liverpool's 16th Premier League win of the season, equalling their tally of wins for the whole 2015-16 season.

The pressure stays on the Reds to remain in the top four with the teams around them having games in hand and their next match is the Super Sunday clash against Manchester City at the Etihad.

Liverpool Goals: Wijnaldum 45'+1, Can 61'.

Burnley Goal: Barnes 7'.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 7 Milner (c), 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 2 Clyne; 20 Lallana (booked 87'), 23 Can (booked 63'), 5 Wijnaldum; 10 Coutinho (58 Woodburn 60'), 27 Origi (21 Lucas 79'), 19 Mané. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 12 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 59 Wilson, 66 Alex-Arnold.

Burnley Team: 1 Heaton (c); 23 Ward, 6 Mee (booked 37'), 5 Keane, 2 Lowton; 37 Arfield (32 Agya 90'), 13 Hendrick, 19 Barton, 21 Boyd (12 Brady 73'); 7 Gray (9 Vokes 80'), 10 Barnes. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 17 Robinson, 18 Westwood, 26 Tarkowski, 27 Darikwa.

HT & FT Stats: Liverpool-Burnley
Score: 1-1 & 2-1
Possession: 70%-30% & 65%-35%
Shots: 5-4 & 10-11
On target: 1-1 & 3-1
Corners: 7-1 & 11-1
Fouls: 4-9 & 12-16
Bookings: 0-1 & 2-2

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Ashley Barnes
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,145

Click here for my last LFC match.

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report and Sky Sports coverage.

Wolves Stun Reds At Anfield

Sports - Football - FA Cup - LFC 1:2 WWFC

Wolves completed the perfect stunner by beating Liverpool 1-2 at Anfield, thereby eliminating them from the FA Cup in the fourth round.

It took the visitors just over 52 seconds to take the lead thanks to Richard Stearman heading in Hélder Wander Costa's free kick with poor marking by seven red shirts just watching on.

Paul Lambert's men dominated from then on, man of the match Costa menacing the Reds, and in the ninth minute ran right through them for the ball to end up just wide after a bit of a stumble.

Throughout the match, it seemed like Jürgen Klopp's men were just watching, not attacking the ball, not marking nor moving, making it too easy for Wolves.

And when Divock Origi lost the ball in his own half five minutes before the break, it was Costa again who pounced on it, broke out and away on the counter.

Challenged by Alberto Moreno, the 23-year old winger crossed the ball to Andreas Weimann who made no mistake of beating Loris Karius with a nice side-footer.

That took Liverpool to the break, 0-2 down, having not recorded any shots on target themselves, Anfield sounding anxious and angry.

Philippe Coutinho replaced Connor Randall after the break to bring more stability and threat to the home side and they did create more.

But it was nowhere near their usual pushing and pressing, making Wolves' marking job much easier, too many players staying static, standing, watching.

Both keepers did not have much to do, Liverpool over-touching, over-playing rather than moving and threatening, substitute Daniel Sturridge missing a couple of sitters.

The only notable save in the second half was made by Karius late on after another counter.

A couple of minutes after that, Origi headed a goal in off Sturridge, giving the Reds a glimmer of hope of a comeback with just under five minutes of normal time to go.

But it was too little, too late, and the huffy and puffy Merseysiders were well beaten for the third time in a row after going unbeaten at Anfield for 370 days before Saturday's loss to the Swans.

Here is my match report of their last match, defeat against Southampton in the EFL Cup semi final second leg.

The 8,300 travelling fans could not have asked for more from their side and the trip was well worth it watching Wolves, the deserved winners.

The three previous occasions they had beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup, they went on to win the trophy. Good luck to them!

Klopp's men are welcoming Chelsea to Anfield next, for their Premier League clash Tuesday evening, the last day of a very dry and dire January for the Reds.

Out of the EFL Cup... Out of the FA Cup... Just a two-point gap keeping them in the top four in the league... It couldn't get any worse... Could it?!

Liverpool Goal: Origi 85:22min.

Wolves Goals: Stearman 0:52min & Weimann 40:50min.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 56 Randall (10 Coutinho 45); 5 Wijnaldum (booked 51'), Lucas (c), 53 Ejaria (23 Can 74'); 11 Firmino (15 Sturridge 65'), 27 Origi, 58 Woodburn. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 7 Milner, 22 Mignolet, 35 Stewart, 59 Wilson.

Wolves Team: 31 Burgoyne; 2 Doherty, 30 Hause (booked 48'), 5 Stearman (booked 29'), 16 Coady; 8 Saville, 14 Evans (booked 89'); 63 Weimann (10 Mason 77'), 4 Edwards (c), 17 Helder Costa (43 Ronan 67'); 9 Dicko (22 Bodvarsson 71'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 6 Batth, 21 Lonergan, 26 Enobakhare, 55 Gibbs-White.

Match Stats: 1st & 2nd half LFC-WWFC
Attempts: 4-5 & 20-7
On target: 0-2 & 5-3
Offside: 0-1 & 1-2
Corners: 3-2 & 7-4
Fouls: 4-7 & 7-13
Bookings: 0-1 & 1-3
Possession: 79%-21% & 79%-21%

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match:  Hélder Wander Costa
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,469

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report and live coverage.

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Saints Outclass Reds To Reach Cup Final

Sports - Football - EFL Cup - LFC 0:1 SFC

Southampton reached their first final in 38 years beating Liverpool 1-0 in the EFL Cup semi final second leg at Anfield, 2-0 on aggregate, confidently, convincingly and deservedly so over the two legs.

Jürgen Klopp's side did not come out all guns blazing as expected being 1-0 down from the first leg.

The Saints, without key defender Virgil van Dijk due to injury, looked solid at the back and threatening on counters, the scorer of the first-leg goal Nathan Redmond breaking and bossing from the left.

Dusan Tadic came closest in the first half, spurning a chance at point blank, Loris Karius blocking and holding on gratefully.

The under-fire German keeper also denied skipper Steven Davis, who fired another good chance high and over.

The Reds missed Sadio Mané, youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold the only one pressuring, covering and creating anything on the right flank for the home side.

Not much changed after the interval, the home side enjoying more possession, pushing and pressing, but not creating much threat.

The closest Liverpool came was when Fraser Forster punched away Emre Can's attempt, to watch it bounce over him, sending him scrambling back to stop it from crossing the line.

It was a good recovery from what could have ended up very embarrassing for the English stopper.

Apart from that, the evening grew more and more frustrating for the hosts, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana wasting chances and giving away the ball again and again.

Klopp left the changes late, bringing on Divock Origi the Kop were chanting for, replacing Can with just over ten minutes to go.

And why Georginio Wijnaldum came on for Philippe Coutinho with only a couple of minutes remaining and not earlier, only the German manager knows.

Anfield was just as furious as their boss, watching Southampton wasting time and a handball appeal against substitute Shane Long denied by referee Ben Atkinson.

Replays showed it was a close call, the ball coming off the top of the arm/shoulder, a 50/50 call, the officials staying consistent as in not giving much.

It was too little, too late for the Reds, and when Origi went down in the box challenged by Jack Stephens in injury time, it just looked desperate.

The corner that followed taken by James Milner was dire and led up to another Southampton counter, started by substitute Josh Sims with a great run and pass, finished off nicely by Long.

This win means Saints manager Claude Puel is unbeaten in six against Liverpool (W3, D3), whilst it's Klopp's first semi-final defeat in seven as a manager.

The result drags down Liverpool's form so far this year, the only win coming against League Two side Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup third round replay, losing three and drawing three of the seven games played so far this year.

Southampton will be going to the final at Wembley on the 26th February to meet either Manchester United or Hull City, having not conceded a single goal in the competition.

They are looking to win their second major trophy since beating the Red Devils in the 1976 FA Cup final. History in the making?

Southampton Goal: Long 90:44min.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 7 Milner, 6 Lovren, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 20 Lallana, 14 Henderson (c), 23 Can (27 Origi 78'); 10 Coutinho (5 Wijnaldum 87'), 15 Sturridge, 11 Firmino. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 17 Klavan, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 22 Mignolet, 58 Woodburn.

Southampton Team: 1 Forster; 21 Bertrand, 3 Yoshida, 24 Stephens, 2 Soares; 8 Davis, 14 Romeu, 16 Ward-Prowse (23 Hojbjerg 59'); 11 Tadic, 9 Rodriguez (7 Long 45'), 22 Redmond (39 Sims 81'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 4 Clasie, 15 Martina, 38 McQueen, 41 Lewis.

Match Stats: HT & FT Liverpool-Southampton
Possession: 72%-28% & 73%-27%
Attempts: 4-5 & 13-7
On target: 2-1 & 3-2
Corners: 1-2 & 8-4
Fouls: 5-2 & 8-2
Bookings: 0-0 & 0-0

Referee: Ben Atkinson
Man of the match: Oriel Romeu
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,238

Pictures and stats taken from BBC match report and Sky Sports live coverage.

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Ibrahimovic saves point for United

Sports - Football - Premier League - MUFC 1:1 LFC

Zlatan Ibrahimovic extended United's unbeaten run to twelve league games (5D, 7W) as he levelled the score late on against bitter rivals Liverpool making it 1:1 and a point each at Old Trafford.

Jürgen Klopp and his men will see it more as two points dropped than one point won after showing great control and sternness.

They had taken the lead in the 27th minute thanks to James Milner's spot kick, given against an embarrassingly obvious handball by Paul Pogba, and the visitors controlled the game from then.

The £89m-striker was lucky to stay on the pitch after wrestling Jordan Henderson to the ground, his arm around the Red skipper's throat.

Keeper Simon Mignolet impressed with a strong display, denying Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the first half.

Red Devils' boss José Mourinho had seen enough and left the dugout for the break before time was added on.

Wayne Rooney came on after the interval, replacing Michael Carrick, looking to break Liverpool and the club record.

The Scouser did bring more confidence and threat to the Red Devils, but Klopp knew how to deal with that, bringing on Philippe Coutinho and more stability with it.

The German's face and voice said it all just seconds before the leveller, loud, angry, devilish...

Ibrahimovic equalised in the 84th minute off the rebound after Antonio Valencia powered it in off the post. Replays showed a United player was offside in the build-up.

It's the Swede's 14th goal in his first 20 Premier League matches, equalling Alan Shearer's and Sergio Agüero's records.

And it didn't finish there. Ander Herrera was cautioned in the dying minutes for pulling Roberto Firmino's shirt. Both managers clashed on the touchline as both felt the opponent should have a man sent off.

The Portuguese manager calmed his players down in the final minutes, Sir Alex Ferguson smiling in the stands.

Liverpool felt robbed. Klopp had to breath in and out before answering any post-match questions, clear signs of frustration.

The draw does mean Milner is still unbeaten in the 46 games where he has scored and Liverpool have recorded least defeats of all Premier League teams (two, same as Tottenham).

But every goal and point dropped will hurt as Chelsea are now seven points clear at the top with 17 games to go.

Liverpool Goal: Milner pen 26:37min.

Manchester United Goal: Ibrahimovic 83:09min.

Manchester United Team: 1 De Gea; 36 Darmian (27 Fellaini 76'), 5 Marcos Rojo, 4 Jones, 25 Valencia; 11 Martial (8 Mata 65'), 21 Ander Herrera (booked 90'), 16 Carrick (10 Rooney 46'); 9 Ibrahimovic, 22 Mkhitaryan, 6 Pogba. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 20 S Romero, 17 Blind, 12 Smalling & Rashford.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 6 Lovren (booked 31'), 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (booked 61'), 14 Henderson, 23 Can; 27 Origi (10 Coutinho 61'), 11 Firmino (booked 90'), 20 Lallana. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 11 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 34 Stewart, 53 Ejaria & 15 Sturridge.

HT & FT stats: MUFC-LFC
Possession: 52%-48% & 55%-45%
Attempts: 4-5 & 9-13
On target: 2-1 & 3-4
Corners: 3-5 & 5-7
Fouls: 9-8 & 17-13
Bookings: 0-1 & 1-3

Referee: Michael Oliver
Ground: Old Trafford
Attendance: 75,276

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report. 

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Saints Outplay Liverpool In Semi First Leg

Sports - Football - EFL Cup - SFC 1:0 LFC

Southampton outshone and -played record winners Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, beating the Reds 1-0 at St Mary's.

It could and should have been a much worse score for the Reds, under-fire and second-choice keeper Loris Karius making some crucial saves, especially in the first half.

The Saints had taken the lead thanks to Nathan Redmond's fine finish off Jay Rodriguez just 20 minutes into the clash.

The English midfielder could have had a hat-trick if it weren't for the 23-year-old German stopper denying him again and again, keeping the visitors in the tie.

Jürgen Klopp conceded defeat after the match and that it should have been 3-0, leaving Saints boss Claude Puel happy with the display but a bit disappointed with the result.

It was by far the worst performance under the German boss, the Reds dominating possession but recording less shots and only two on target, leaving Fraser Forster with not much to do.

Man of the match  Virgil van Dijk bossed the show from the back, frustrating the visitors, Roberto Firmino the only Red to get an attempt on target.

Southampton will be desperate to keep hold of the popular centre-half throughout and beyond the January transfer window.

Liverpool will be desperate to come back from this dire defeat, lucky to have just one goal between the two when they meet again at Anfield in just over two weeks.

(The game was so bad, there is not more to write about. No discrediting Southampton, it was a great win for them!)

Southampton Goal: Redmond (20').

Southampton Team: 1 Forster; 2 Soares, 3 Yoshida, 17 van Dijk (c), 21 Bertrand; 14 Romeu, 4 Clasie (23 Hojbjerg 73'), 8 Davis (16 Ward-Prowse 82'); 9 Rodriguez (booked 81') (7 Long 82'), 22 Redmond, 11 Tadic (booked 65'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 24 Stephens, 38 McQueen, 39 Sims, 41 Lewis.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner (c); 21 Lucas, 5 Wijnaldum (10 Coutinho 61'), 23 Can; 15 Sturridge, 20 Lallana, 11 Firmino (27 Origi 83'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 12 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 35 Stewart, 58 Woodburn.

Match Stats: SFC-LFC
Attempts: 11-9
On target: 5-2
Corners: 2-5
Fouls: 11-5
Bookings: 2-0

Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Ground: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 31,480

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report.

Click here for my previous LFC match report.