Jurgen Klopp may live to regret a catalogue of missed chances in the squalls of rain and obdurate Saints resistance.
Dropped points at St Mary's will not make or break Liverpool 's title charge, but artistic impression and high tempo alone will not bring the holy grail back to Anfield after 27 years.
Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead and lost the corresponding fixture last season, a defeat which effectively put the tin lid on their chances of a top-four finish – and a stark reversal of their six-goal romp in the League Cup at St Mary's.
In conditions which sometimes felt like the end of the world more than the end of autumn, chances were much harder to find this time in an orgy of gegenpress, as Jurgen Klopp would call it.
When ex-Saints striker Sadio Mane enjoyed a clear sight of goal after 28 minutes, England goalkeeper Fraser Forster denied his old team-mate with a flying save.
EPL Table As It Stands
MATCH HIGHLIGHT
Georginio Wijnaldum's rocket on the stroke of the interval was not far away, but Philippe Countinho, sent clear by Brazilian sidekick Roberto Firmino, could only slice his shot wide under pressure from Jose Fonte when he looked odds-on to score.
From about the same range, Firmino then missed the best chance of the match as Liverpool cranked up the pressure, and Nathaniel Clyne went close when sub Daniel Sturridge stood up a cross towards the far post.
But they were unable to take liberties at the other end, Charlie Austin heading narrowly wide from Cedric's cross in a rare Saints excursion into Liver bird territory.
0 comments:
Post a Comment