I only saw part of the second half
Happy to get 3 pts similar in the way I was happy with our Stoke win last season - maybe the commonality between the two is relief but less so this year.
From second half viewing, we played a team who under those circumstances made pre-season look like a virtual kick about - although the Citeh game was a blinder.
From what I saw, Southampton were pretty equal to us and when they scored after that they started to dominate things a little. As they did this we seemed to retreat territoriality and when we have Gerrard and Lucas in midfield that is often the case as the midfield drop. But we didn't seem to have an outlet and at times tried to play on the counter to no avail. Oh well, just glad we could see it out.
I remember giving Lucas due credit in pre-season but knew why he had excelled in these games - primarily because they were snailed pace. The British game has well and truly left this lad behind and I can't but help think if he'd have been quicker both mentally and physically he wouldn't have let Clyne? ghost in past him to drive home their goal. The only time his name was mentioned by commentators was when he was giving the ball away but he alone wasn't the reason for a mere satisfactory (second half) performance.
I think our attackers (Sterling, Sturridge & Coutinho) need to realise that counter attacking and doing this often is something that is not always the best way to relieve sustained pressure from our midfield and defense. Numerous times, Sturridge being the main culprit frittered possession away by either making the wrong choice or holding the ball to long and being dispossessed. I'd like them, from time to time after a period of sustained pressure to be able to hold the ball up more in midfield but the whole team need to push up to - with Lovren in defense I'm hoping he'll squeeze the unit up further instead of sitting deep and inviting pressure. If the attackers merely made a few passes and keep ball the whole team can shift forward and get on the front foot. More often than not, these phases of play are used to explode from the back, go up the other end and score. This is good. But the law of averages says, as yesterday told us, to sometimes forget this and be a little more savvy with the ball, and try a steadier build-up that involves the whole team, and allows them as a complete unit to push up.
I thought Manquillo looked very promising. I want to see more of Lovren but he does look to attack the ball and get round his marker before his marker gets a touch, his passing looked good, in fact physically (look a like) he reminded me of Agger. I thought Skertel from the second half showing looked good, Johnson wasn't really at the game and Henderson was his usual Duracell self.
All in all, thankful for 3 pts, it gives us something positive to build on. I hope midfield (personnel) are re-sorted for Citeh next week. Well done boys, oh and well done Sterling, proper little talent who (after I saw a highlight) took his exceptional placed pass from Henderson well to cooly finish for our first. For us to do well this year, young Raheem will need to carry on like that and have a big impact in most our games, but as of now, he's off to a flyer!