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Jurgen Klopp admitted that Liverpool are going through a “rusty moment” after a 1-0 loss at Southampton extended the defending champions’ winless streak in the Premier League to three games. Danny Ings’ surprising goal in the second minute earned him three points that brought Southampton to sixth place and brought Saints coach Ralph Hasenhuttl to tears of joy at the final whistle. Liverpool remain at the top of the table on goal difference over Manchester United, but have now played one more match than the Red Devils, whom they will face in their next league game at Anfield on 17 January.
“It’s a difficult time, we have to admit it,” said Klopp, whose team last failed to win in three consecutive Premier League games in May 2018.
“Only if you know the problem can you solve it, we are not blind. We have to fight and overcome this.”
A first league loss in three months may accelerate Liverpool’s search for a center back in the January transfer window.
Without the injured Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Klopp started two of his first-choice midfielders from his title-winning campaign, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, together at the heart of his defense.
Southampton hadn’t scored in their last three games to dampen their hopes of pushing European football forward, but it took only two minutes to break the deadlock in style through former Liverpool striker Ings.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed James Ward-Prowse’s angled free kick into the box and Ings perfectly hooked his shot over Alisson Becker in the far corner.
“It’s not just the slow start, but the slow start made life enormously difficult tonight,” Klopp added.
Southampton had key absences with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy absent due to a positive coronavirus test, while Oriol Romeu, Jannik Vestergaard and Che Adams were injured.
Fraser Forster was making his first appearance for the Saints since May 2019, but the former England international was rarely tested to win a clean sheet.
‘Perfect game plan’
The visitors could have easily found themselves 2-0 down before the break when Southampton substitute Nathan Tella was inches from his first senior goal.
If Klopp’s men were too passive in the first half, they started the second half with the intensity with which they have made their trademark in recent seasons, as Southampton was immobilized within their own half.
Sadio Mane was the biggest threat to the visitors on their return to St Mary’s when Jack Stephens made one final challenge to block their route to the goal before Kyle Walker-Peters was lucky enough to escape without conceding a penalty for obstructing another flurry of the Senegalese in the box.
Thiago Alcantara was making just his second start at Liverpool since a highly anticipated play by Bayern Munich, but even the Spaniard’s passing range couldn’t get through Southampton’s determined defense.
“I started to believe that we could do it in the 92nd minute, not before,” Hasenhuttl said. “They are so strong up front that you always think something can happen.
“We had to have a perfect game plan today and luck. No luck against a team like that, you can’t win.”
Mane had Liverpool’s only shot on goal with 15 minutes remaining, when his tame effort was easily stopped by Forster to his left.
Southampton could have sealed a big win moments later when Yan Valery caught Alisson too far from his line, whose shot didn’t have the power to beat Henderson on a run to the goal line.
Promoted
Liverpool often escaped late-goal problems to clinch the title last season, but have failed to do so during the festive period, and have also lost points to West Brom and Newcastle.
United and Manchester City now have the upper hand in the title race, as both can get ahead of Liverpool if they win their games in hand.
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