The old cliche "game of two halves" springs to mind here. First half we looked like we'd get twatted by a team playing on Prinny Park the savvy. Second half we looked like no side in the world would score against us. It's amazing just how one team can perform so differently within the same game. The first half we never got into any sustained pressure in the Southampton half, the second half we controlled for much of it.
Coutinho's screamer was goal of the season. Don't care what happens between now and May, nothing will beat that. Sterling's was a goal but weren't a great finish, more poor goalkeeping. But we'll take it. The ref was laughable.
Mignolet continues to put in quality performances. Being dropped was the best thing to happen to Simple Simon. He's been on fire for most of 2015, commanding, decisive and confident. Has to keep it up of course, one bad performance and the knives will be back out for him.
Lovren summed up our two half performance better than anybody else today. First half he made me long for the days of Traore, Kvarme, or Pelligrino at the heart of our defence again. Second half, he was as good as anybody in my opinion. Really solid second half. Nothing flash, just good proper defending.
Skrtel, like Mignolet, continues to flourish in this new system. I keep saying it, he's been the one the system has brought the best out of more than anybody else. Today he started a little slowly, Pelle getting the better of him in the early goings. But as the game went on the big Slovak just took control of the situation and won everything.
Can was a very lucky boy in the opening thirty seconds. For me it was a penalty, he pulled the fella back. Slightly, I admit. But in today's game, winning the ball constitutes a foul at times, pulling a player back certainly does. It'd also of been a red card. He got away with it though, then had a difficult first half, clearly struggling on the left hand side. Second half, like the rest of the boys grew into it and showed some real qualities.
Ibe proved once again why some of the money we spent in the summer was wasted. We had a quality player just waiting in the wings. And F**k me, this isn't even his natural position, yet he's putting in the best performances of any Liverpool player on a regular basis. He knows his job and is doing it great. He drives us forward because he runs with the ball, his defensive work is a lot better than most wingers in their prime, let alone teenagers trying to make their way in the game. Fantastic!
Henderson was a little slow to get going but grew into the game. Started dictating things, made us tick and showed he's ready to lead this team. Could of easily hid after the Beskitas penalty incident but instead stepped up and showed his leadership. Very good from Jordy.
Allen put in your typical Joe Allen performance. And that's not a compliment. I don't wanna get into slagging him off again though for giving us nothing, so I won't. Oh and he too should of been sent off for giving away a penalty.
Markovic, like Ibe, proved why some of the money we spent in the summer was wasted. It may not turn out to be but at the minute, 20 million on Lazzy is looking like a waste. The fella looked completely out of his depth today. I mean to be fair, Clyne is the best right back in the League and will torment a lot of players down the left hand side but he made Markovic look like he belonged at Hartlepool rather than Liverpool. Mind you, he got an assist didn't he?
Lallana was on the pitch. Lallana was subbed. That was about all I saw from him. Great.
Coutinho was on the pitch, scored the goal of the season, had two or three nice link ups with Sterling but overall didn't really do enough to warrant a lot of praise. His goal was special, can't praise it highly enough. But overall, Little Phil, was highly invisible.
Sterling scored a very scruffy goal but, like our other attacking three, put in a very poor performance. I also didn't get why he stayed up top and Sturridge played out wide when Danny came on. But if that's how he performs when wanting a new deal, I'd hate to see somebody who didn't wanna be here.
Moreno made a huge difference. He sured up the defence. It wasn't all down to Albert of course but his arrival on the pitch made a huge difference. I think it helped just to have a natural left footer on the left hand side. (not being a c**t or anything, but what foot is Markovic?)
Sturridge was at his greedy b***ard worst. Looked as if he was trying to show off today. Rather than doing it when it was necessary, he instead done it at all times. And very rarely did it come off today.
Johnson made his long awaited return to the first team and I'd like to say it was great to see him back but we all know it'd be a lie. He better not replace Ibe in the team.
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