Southampton: Defending champions Liverpool were stunned by Southampton losing by a slender margin 0-1 in the Premier League at the St Mary’s Stadium on Monday (January 4). Striker Danny Ings was the sole scorer in the game netting it for the home side in the first half.
Liverpool lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Fabinho being surprisingly paired with skipper Jordan Henderson at the heart of the defence. Thiago Alcantara along with Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain formed a midfield trident. Roberto Firmino shared the forward line alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
The defending champions got hit early just after the kick-off. Southampton got their set-piece courtesy of foul which James Ward-Prowse took beautifully finding Danny Ings in the box who chipped it over goalkeeper Allison exquisitely showing great composure. The mute celebration after the goal of respecting his old-side presented the great spirit of the game.
Liverpool, however, started dominating the possession after that especially through Thiago who had much of the ball in the majority of the half but his side was unable to fire shots on the target. The golden chance came for Salah as Mane floated in a cross which the Egyptian forward failed to get good contact with his head.
In the second half too, Liverpool turned up the heat quite well-creating a handful of opportunities to find something but it was not just their day as they lacked the final touch.
Their day would have been more miserable had Henderson not retrieve the mistake of Allison who rushed-off his line out of his box trying to save an attack coming from the front before missing it completely.
Towards the end, Mane got a great chance as well from the corner but his header went over the bar ending a disappointing day for the league leaders. They will face the challenge of second-placed Manchester United in the next league fixture.
