HOW annoying. At half-time we are all laughing and joking and picturing Flanno lifting the Premier League trophy in 2017. At full time we’ve thrown it away, a limp second-half performance that only looked like finishing one way after The Saints equalised.
For all Jürgen Klopp’s influence, and a run of comebacks from going behind, you still suspect this team is a bit soft. That even with tactical mistakes and individual errors there should be enough about them to see it through. That it all shouldn’t look so inevitable.
By the end the shape had gone, the confidence gone, the desire to play disappeared. Just 11 lads wandering around, waiting to be beat.
Managers often say you learn more about your squad in defeat than victory. That could be managers looking for a silver lining, or something to say that makes them sound like they are about to get it right. Or it could be true. In which case it might be a bit clearer to Klopp who he can trust, and what he needs to bring in come the summer.
I guess it was always going to be about next year. But fans don’t think like that. We want to win games now. And now we’ve got two bastard weeks to wait to try again.
Hopefully, The Reds will put it right and put it strong. Twenty seven more points in the league. One shiny trophy in Europe. Don’t let the season drift away. Waiting for next year is last.
Simon Mignolet: 7
What a funny game for him. Terrific save on the penalty and a top stop from Oriol Romeu, too. But you sense he is part of the collective lack of mental strength that is bringing Liverpool down. Anyone can slice a clearance. But it’s so typical of his Liverpool career to lob one up into the air when he did.
Jon Flanagan: 5
Not one you want on your captain’s CV. He gets caught with it for the first goal, but aside from that was solid enough.
Nathaniel Clyne: 6
Linked well going forward. This all seems really pointless though doesn’t it? Given what was going on at centre half I feel like I’m rating the brass band on The Titanic. “In the Mood was a bit sloppy, but fair play for carrying on until we all died.”
Dejan Lovren: 4
You generally don’t take centre halves off until you really have to, a point demonstrated by the outcome of the second half. Before all that though it does need a reminder that Lovren was rubbish first half. He can’t cope with playing at Southampton at all. Which considering we play there at least once a year is a rather big problem. Maybe some of his team-mates can give him tips in mental strengt…. ah, balls.
Mamadou Sakho: 6
It all happened quite quickly for their first but, given his position, I’m surprised he lets Sadio Mane have the full sight of the goal. He did seem like the only one doing anything remotely close to centre-half defending though.
Emre Can: 7
Passed the ball well and was breaking forward, too. Shouldn’t be relied on for leadership.
Joe Allen:6
Feel a bit sorry for him because, although he should bury it first half, it’s a better save than it looks. He then does bury one and it’s harshly ruled out. Faded badly though, and really could have done with some more help in the middle. Some very tired challenges by the end, including for their third.
Adam Lallana:7
In contrast to Lovren, he had his best game back at St Mary’s. Really important to us at the moment. Like a poor man’s Iniesta the way he moves and carries the ball. Tried to help out in the centre when we were struggling, too.
Phil Coutinho: 7
Terrific strike to laud it over the “don’t shoot, Phil, bores”. Proven match-winner when others manage to do their bit, too. Which frustrated me that he ends the match so deep.
Daniel Sturridge: 6
Lovely finish the way he creates the space with a shimmy to find the corner. Was pretty much a passenger second half though, which didn’t help everything else.
Divock Origi: 6
Obviously coming on, but also has a long way to go. Needs to look more like a striker who might put it in at some stage. But you can see why managers and team-mates like him.
SUBS
Martin Skrtel: 2
Here we go. He didn’t look ready at all, which doesn’t reflect well on the manager. I actually think he’s a bit unlucky with the penalty as they are both pulling and they don’t normally get given. But then his head falls off completely. What on earth he is doing for the third I don’t know. Looks like the end. What a way to go.
Christian Benteke: 4
Don’t think the manager shouting at him on the pitch helps anyone. Aside from the public nature of the whole thing, how much can you imagine he actually took in? But then I spent a lot of time shouting at him, too, and we do say we want our managers to be like us. The gentle lay off backwards 40 yards a real highlight.
Sheyi Ojo: n/a
Not rating him.
I groaned and swore when Skrtlel came on and realised that even if we had scored 5 in the first half it may not have been enough. Bemused by the substitution as Lovren wasn’t as bad as you’ve made out. Think 2 should be _ 2 as Skrtel was a plus for them. And I’m still trading you for Coutinho because I bet he’s dead nice to his dad.
A 2 for Martin seems about right although Soton fans would rate him an 8 at least. Bad at center back and a weak midfielder too based on that last goal.
Harsh on Allen. Was involved in everything good in the first half. Was overrun by numbers in the second and Klopp gets it wrong by not bringing on Hendo for Sturridge. Not sure how Can gets a point over him when it was his job to keep the back solid. I’d reverse their scores.
It’s not Can’s job to keep the back solid – they’re supposed to work as a pair. Allen dramatically faded 2nd half and became largely anonymous.
It really is a disgraceful loss. 3-2 from 0-2 is outrageous.
You cannot blame one player entirely for something like this but Skrtel’s introduction was devastating for us. It may not be a good call from Klopp to put him on but surely you should be able to trust a 31 year old pro?
Even after saving a penalty Mignolet manages to do something which reminds you what an amateur he is. That kick he ballooned up for their third… Leave him in Southampton. He should never have been allowed on the coach back from Wembley tbh.
Spot on with Mingolet’s kick. His little floaters are an invitation for a team to push up and squeeze us. If they go in behind we can turn a team. It’s so basic but so effective. Especially under pressure
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a substituation do what Skrtle’s did for us today. If there was any doubt where the blame for years of defensive woes lie, then that should put it rest. I’m even having second thoughts about Mignolet too.
2/10 is charitable. He was at fault for three goals, and a pen (which you might say was soft, had Martin not spent three quarters of his career trying to get lads tops off). You can’t say that’s match fitness either, since he’s been doing crazy shit like this for years now.
One of the worst 45s I’ve ever seen, getting into Poulsen territory. He will surely be given the boot this summer, about three seasons too late.
4/10 for Lovren is harsh as well. I understand why he was subbed, but I think we win that game if he stays on. Never thought I’d have that to say about him.
I thought the shift in attitude after the first half was startling, almost as if we thought it was going to be a stroll, especially after the penalty save.
Thought Can and Coutinho looked leggy that second half too, very leggy.
Good scores. Quite a few posters and commentators have been advocating starting Origi instead of Sturridge: today you could see why Klopp doesn’t take that option. He’s a willing runner but never looks a goal threat. Thought Lallana was our best player today, suits playing a more midfield role. Agree with you about Benteke: I felt sorry for him. Whatever his failings, he seems like a genuinely nice and humble man.
4 for Lovren is ridiculous. The manager deserves a 0 for costing us the game with the poor decision to take him off. Turned the game completely.
He’d lost his head and the manager saw that. He just made the wrong change.
Very disappointed in Lovren today (more in Skrtel, obviously). I really thought he’d turned the corner but like Mignolet, he’s mentally fragile. Can’t have that in your defence.
Yeah fair enough. I’d put Sakho in the same bracket, he’s been better in the last few games but it doesn’t take much for his head to fall off. Add to the fact that they’re both injury prone and it’s not really a partnership to build on.
Matip needs to hit the ground running next season, in front of a new keeper.
I don’t think that Lovren was that bad…he struggled a bit but at 1-2 the Lovren-Sakho pairing would have copped better under the pressure…just rewind the utd game when we were 1-0 down. For me Lovren was just one of the lads burned out from Thursday. You just don’t disrupt the defense unless it really has to. Off day for Klopp starting with the decision to put this pressure on Flanno – great defender but not experienced enough. I hope this doesn’t effect his confidence! Up the Reds! Still a lot to play for!
I’m speechless about Mignolet. I’ve lost count of his involvement in situations which costed us points. Don’t care about the saves anymore
Can’t find any fan site that has seen the same game as me!? Mainly – Lovren on the pitch = no shots on goal despite him almost conceding a (certain) penalty and ONE rash challenge for a yellow card far away from goal that is seen in every premier league game every weekend. Also – and I take tiredness as the excuse so I think Klopp should have intervened – Coutinho was the worst passenger in the 2nd half. Mane JOGGED past him on numerous occasions with Phil simply pulling up and stopping running to help out any 2 on 1’s against Clyne. Goal threat was gone as soon as Benteke came on, but again, every player seems to think long ball as soon as he’s on the pitch – something Klopp has to be responsible for? Anyway, will probably watch the highlights and discover I’m wrong…
To be fair I’m not surprised Allen faded 2nd half, klopp has barely given him more than 20 mins since he’s been back from injury
I’m just sad for the way we lost, how on earth can Klopp take off Lovren I think he did well, Sturridge should have been taken off at half time. This lad is a first half player
Didn’t think Lovren came off for his performance so much as the attention he was getting from the referee. I get it. Just wish Kolo had come on instead of Skrtle. Mane is the type of player to give Skrtel fits. Of course, Klopp didn’t know that at the time time. It worked out horribly for us. That said, Skrtel being sent off in an U21 game was a good sign he wasn’t there yet.
Klopp being harangued by idiots for telling off Benteke for a lackadaisical shift where he punted the game away like it was one of his infamous back passes, but what did him in was being overly loyal. First to the local lad who was barely ready for the start let alone the armband and secondly for giving a former starter first crack at getting back into the game. Both turned out to be mistakes.
Watched it on the tv so may have gotten a different view – but thought sakho had some blame for all 3 goals. 2 he showed them the goal and tackled too late, third he didnt even tackle. Mignolet gives another goal away. Same old. But actually thought flanno did well. He plays for the shirt. Really wanna see him at centre back. And has sturridge lost some pace since coming back? Looks a little off at times. Still a star though
Worst loss under Klopp. He got it as wrong as any players on the pitch. How does Sakho get a 6? At fault or partly at fault for all 3 goals.