Nathan Redmond gave Southampton an important goal after 20 minutes into the encounter, between the two big Premier League clubs, which gives them an advantage over Liverpool in the League Cup Semi-final tie. The hosts won the game, which comprised of a thrilling 90 minutes and hopefully more such awaits Anfield in the second leg of the tie. If Liverpool want to get their hands on the first trophy of the Jurgen Klopp era soon they will surely have to play better than this. This League Cup semi-final first leg at Saint Mary’s should have put them one step towards closer towards Wembley but they blew it, barely showing up and getting lucky that they were only beaten 1-0 by Southampton.
Liverpool had demolished the same opponents 6-1 in the quarter-finals of this competition last season at the same venue, but a repeat meeting came in sharp contrast as the Saints defended superbly throughout.
Virgil van Dijk again displayed why he is one of the best Premier League defenders with a class, strong, composed performance and how Jurgen Klopp would have wished for such a resolute presence in his own defense when Ragnar Klavan’s error allowed Redmond to grab a vital goal.
Liverpool had the first shot on target when Roberto Firmino tested Fraser Forster, but a few minutes later Nathan Redmond scored the first and only goal of the game. He probably should have grabbed a hat-trick by the final whistle but was denied by a really good save by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius and one clearance of the line by Dejan Lovren after his chipped effort hit the bar.
Former Saint Sadio Mane appeared to be a sore loss from Liverpool’s front line, which lacked its usual zip, the Senegalese was out of the team on the Africa Cup of Nations duty, though Coutinho embarked on a couple of mazy runs, after he replaced team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum in the second half, unable to however conjure anything for the visitors.
Liverpool dominated the possession for most of the game, but were unable to penetrate a strong Southampton back-line, but in the end a 1-0 result to the Saints has still kept a wonderful much anticipated tie, as the two sides meet at the Merseyside, in two weeks time.
The Reds have a chance of winning some major titles once again this season and will not want to fail at doing so, this season, after such a positive start.
