Liverpool Create But Can't Finish Against Southampton

Liverpool came into today's match riding high.  They've been scoring goals, racking up points and looking like a real title contender.

Liverpool had not lost since their disappointing 2-0 loss to Burnley, of all teams.  The Reds had been flying high and there were all sorts of mentions by the broadcast team about how the team was performing better than they had since 1987 or more goals at this point since the 1800's, etc.

Southampton did not care much about all that.  They wanted a point from this match, come hell or high water.  For the first 45 minutes it looked like they would get at least that.

They parked the bus and put all ten men behind the ball, giving Liverpool absolutely no space in which to work.  Liverpool had a chance or two off Southampton mistakes, but there really wasn't anything from the Reds that would trouble the goalkeeper by being on frame.

The second half would be more of the same, but the spaces were more readily available.  The Old Boys were trying to probe a little further forward in an attempt to take all three points.

While they came close to poaching a goal in the 59th minute when Charlie Austin overpowered the defender for a header that skimmed wide, the Reds were the one afforded more chances.  Unfortunately, their top guys were not on top form.

Coutinho flubbed one off his left foot about 10 minutes into the second half.  He could have been given a penalty since the defender made a lot of contact with him and none on the ball (to the naked eye, there appeared to be a block but was none), but you expect better from the Brazilian.

Speaking of Brazilians, Firmino was played into space on the right in the 69th minute and came close to scoring.  He probably should have, but ended up flashing it just wide as he tried to cut it back across goal.

Liverpool had some opportunities off set pieces or corner kicks, but just could not find that bit of magic to break the deadlock.  With each second ticking off the clock, the match looked like it was going to end in a slightly less boring result than the Manchester United fixture.

The Reds kept their foot on the gas trying to get the three points.  Daniel Sturridge finally got some game time late on.

His inclusion almost immediately paid dividends.  He lofted a cross into a dangerous area and Nathaniel Clyne almost finished it off in the 79th minute.  Sadly, it just shaved the goal again and did not hit the net.

In the end, there was nothing in it for the Liverpool offense.  They created a handful of chances throughout, but could not finish.

The only sad thing was the lack of possession they had when it mattered most, in stoppage time.  The Reds looked a bit out of sorts during all of that.

Nevertheless, it was a decent performance in the grand scheme.  Liverpool remain top of the table on the number of goals they have scored.

A point on the road is always important.  It was not nearly the result we all wanted, but nothing to be too disappointed with either.

Random Thoughts:
- Very random, but the Paul Pogba commercial bothers me.  The insinuation seems to be the woman at the start would be his mother.  Yet she calls him Pogba.  My friends have called me by my last name, but nobody in your family would call you by your last name.

- Though I've made my feelings fairly apparent regarding Adam Lallana, he's had a fantastic year this season.  You wonder if his creativity and work rate might have been a deciding factor in being able to break down Southampton if he was not injured.

- I feel bad for Dejan Lovren.  Clearly I have not kept myself in the loop because I can't remember what he did that makes him the only player the fans booed.  Liverpool had at least two ex-Southampton players on the field and at least three on the team and Lovren gets all the ill will.

Walk On