So’ton 1 – 0 Liverpool

Liverpool lost an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League when Danny Ings’ impressive goal saw Southampton beat the champions 1-0 on Monday Night Football.

Former Reds forward Ings returned to torment his former club with an exquisite no-look finish within two minutes at St Mary’s, which condemned Liverpool to their second loss of the season and ended a 12-year unbeaten streak. champions games.

Southampton restricted Liverpool to a single goal attempt as a tough defensive display and, dominating goalkeeper Fraser Forster’s first Premier League clean sheet in more than three years, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side ended a four-game winless streak. .

Liverpool are still leading the Premier League ahead of Manchester United on goal difference, but they have played one more match and have now failed to win their last three matches. Southampton, meanwhile, climbs to sixth place and is only four points behind the champions.

How Ings and Saints obsessed Liverpool

It took Southampton just two minutes to take the lead with their first attack of the game. James Ward-Prow’s free kick found its way to Ings after Trent Alexander-Arnold misinterpreted the flight of the ball, and the Saints forward tormented his former club with a brilliant shot in the far corner on Alisson.

Liverpool’s makeshift and shocked defense struggled to control the pace and movement of Southampton’s attack line, and were nearly two behind when Ings cushioned a cross in the path of Moussa Djenepo in the 26th minute, but strayed from the goal. .

Sadio Mane sought to bring Liverpool’s unusually tame attacking display to life in the 34th minute, but having moved behind Kyle Walker-Peters, he flashed wildly on the goal.

Southampton lost Djenepo to injury, but his replacement, Nathan Tella, almost showed up in style when he brilliantly capitalized on a Fabinho slip to catch Ings’s knockdown, but fired a shot inches wide.

With the half drawing to a close, Liverpool finally shifted gears when Andy Robertson released Mane from behind, but having parried a taunting ball in the box, the shot was found wanting when Mohamed Salah headed a header towards the ceiling of the net.

Having had only 15 touches in the opponent’s area and not having recorded a single shot on goal in the first half, Liverpool emerged for the second period with renewed intensity but, with an advantage to protect, Southampton were tenacious in defense.

Jack Stephens survived a handball VAR check after Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot was blocked from behind his arm, and the Saints defender was in the right place at the right time to prevent Mane from charging into a tie for short distance just before time.

There were 75 minutes left on the clock when Liverpool registered their first goal attempt, but Forster comfortably saved Mane’s effort as he approached a clean sheet in his first Southampton appearance in 18 months.

Southampton could have sealed victory six minutes from time when Alisson left their box and was hit to the ball by substitute Yan Valery, but his effort had no legs to reach the goal as the Liverpool goalkeeper’s blushes were saved.

But there would be no salvation for Liverpool as Southampton clung to a title race-opening win and left manager Hasenhuttl in tears at the full-time whistle blown.

Carra: Liverpool’s worrying first bump

Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports:

“I didn’t see it coming, I expected a reaction from Liverpool after two really bad performances. We just saw another one. Liverpool’s away form this season is very bad.”

“When it comes to opportunities created, it doesn’t seem like they’ve scored, even tonight again. Did Forster have to make a good save, a great save? Did anyone miss a real opportunity where he had to score?

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“That is a huge concern for Liverpool at the moment, in terms of what they are creating away from home. It is not enough.

“This Liverpool team is amazing, but they are going through one of their first difficult moments in the last two seasons. The big concern is where the goals and creation come from, because it has been non-existent.”

Opta stats: Saints beat champions again

• Southampton are the first team in Premier League history to beat all seven of the competition’s winners on the season after winning the title.
• Liverpool have failed to score in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2018, having found the net in each of their previous 21 league games.
• Liverpool’s first shot on goal in this match came in the 75th minute courtesy of Sadio Mane – it’s the Reds’ longest wait for a shot on goal in a Premier League match since December 2015 (89th minute against Newcastle).
• After having eight shots on goal in their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, Liverpool have managed just seven attempts on goal in their last three Premier League games.
• Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse has provided four assists in the Premier League this season; only in 2014-15 (6) has he had more in a single campaign in the top flight.
• Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster kept his first clean sheet in the Premier League since October 2017 (1-0 against West Bromwich Albion), although this was only his 13th appearance in the competition since then.

Man of the match – Kyle Walker-Peters

Whats Next?

Southampton will host League One Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday at 8pm, before traveling to Leicester in the Premier League on January 16 at 8pm.

Liverpool head to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday at 7.45pm, before hosting Manchester United on Super sunday on January 17, live on Sky Sports Premier League.