Liverpool's Attack Cannot Muster Enough To Knock Off Saints

Liverpool came into their fixture against Southampton with quite a bit on the line.  While a draw would suffice if that was the final after 90, it would not have benefited the Reds very much.

A draw would have only put them up by four points over Manchester United with the Red Devils having two games in hand.  Not exactly the spot you want to be in with your destiny not in your hands

As has become typical in recent games, things got off to a slow start against a team lower in the table than Liverpool.  The Reds struggled to piece together a solid attack and were thwarted any time something began to build.

The one bright spot in the opening half was Roberto Firmino.  He never came tantalizingly close to putting one in the twine, but his performance was very good.

In the 15th minute, Firmino had a nice steal inside the area.  Unfortunately, his subsequent hot was blocked as he went far post and the defender was right there.

Firmino kept up his solid performance by out-muscling his opponent in the midfield in the 34th minute.  Again, the attack could not be formed though, as he could only muster a long, rolling shot that was easily saved.

Halftime came and no score for either team.  The scoreless draw after 45 was frustrating because the Saints literally conjured no attack at all.  Liverpool just had no way of breaking things down.

There was a lot of early movement by the attacking players for Liverpool.  It went in vain and you could tell there was frustration.  They became static as the half wore on and the Reds were trying to lob balls across the packed defense after that.

There was not much the Liverpool manager could do either.  Jurgen Klopp did a lot of jawing with the officials, but in terms of changing his attack there was only so much he could do short of putting new players in.

The second half did not yield much better in terms of final results.  Liverpool had more energy, but were not able to really create.

It seemed like Liverpool would get nothing out of the match as it went a full hour without anything happening.  Then the Reds were given the lifeline of a questionable penalty.

Even as a fan of Liverpool, I did not see the handball that was given for the Reds to have a penalty.  Perhaps it was justice that James Milner failed to convert. Fraser  Forester came up with a big save, but Milner should have gone for a higher shot.

Things finally opened up a bit around the 70th minute.  The back and forth nature even brought about the comment from Jon Champion that we might even see a proper game of football.

Coutinho's day was a little disappointing.  He was putting in the effort to get into good spots and even sent a few hard shots on target.  Unfortunately, his trademark whipping curler ended up at the goalkeeper each time.

In the 78th minute, it seemed like Daniel Sturridge might strike.  However, the ball released just enough near the spot that all he could do was toe-poke it toward the keeper.

By the final whistle, nobody had managed to bulge the old onion bag.  Perhaps we should have seen it coming since Liverpool failed to score against the Saints in four matches this season.

Now, Liverpool must hope for results elsewhere to fall their way.  They are only four points up on the fifth place team and can no longer fully control their own destiny.

They must focus on their final two matches and let everything else fall as it may.

Random Thoughts:
- Are soccer fans too used to not being able to use their hands?  It seems when a ball is blasted into the crowd, nobody wants to attempt to catch it.  They are content to take it off the midsection or even the head.

- I love Sadio Mane, but even as fast and creative as he is, it boggles the mind that he has made that big a difference.  There still should be enough quality in the attack for them to score goals, but goals have been harder to come by without him.

- It stinks to have to complain about a clean sheet.  The Reds played well enough defensively, though Southampton did little to actually attack.  Still, this game feels like points lost.

Walk On

Liverpool Survive Watford In Ugly Contest

Liverpool faced off against Watford looking to wash away the bad taste in their mouth from their previous game.  As has become somewhat the norm, Liverpool failed to do anything against a lower level team and fell to Crystal Palace.

Unfortunately for the Reds and their fans, they were playing against another mid-to-lower level team in Watford.  Watford came into the early May fixture set in 13th place (out of 20) and 26 points behind Liverpool.

Nevertheless, things started out as almost all matches against these smaller clubs have.  Liverpool had most of the possession but could not do anything with it.

To top off the lack of attack, the Reds were faced with an early injury.  Coutinho, one of the few people on the Reds capable of attacking one-on-one, injured his right leg.  Though he tried to hobble on for a few minutes, it was all for naught.  Jurgen Klopp and the staff were forced to take him out in the 13th minute and put in Adam Lallana.

People who have read this blog long enough know I am not the president of Lallana's fan club.  He is a decent player with some good skill, but he is not Coutinho.  The one thing both have in common is an ability to disappear for long stretches.

Fortunately, Lallana is a quality enough player to at least fill the void.  He might not have as much creativity and skill in tight quarters, but he can finish when given the opportunity and a bit of space.

Alas, for Liverpool that space was hard to come by in the opening 45.  The Reds threaded passes through the defenders, but there always seemed to be a double team awaiting the recipient of the pass.

A few long balls here or there got the Reds as far forward as the penalty area and a cross or two even got inside.  There just was not much room to do anything.

While it does not make for an exciting game to watch, you have to marvel at the ability to keep shape for so long and not get drawn out.  On the flip side, Liverpool wants to be considered a top-tier team and top-tier teams find ways to break down those kinds of defenses.

Lallana almost created a bit of magic in the 41st minute.  With a long strike off a goalkeeper's punch from a corner, Lallana smashed a volley that rang off the crossbar.  Unfortunately, it would not cross the goal line and goose eggs remained on the scoreboard.

Just when it seemed like things would go into the break even, there was a bit of brilliance out of nowhere.  With a little chip cross into the box from the right hand side, Emre Can was waiting.

Unbelievably, he went for the bicycle kick and connected.  Whether intentionally or not, he got a bit of loft on the shot instead of power.  That was enough to lob it over the goalkeeper and give the Reds a spectacular goal for their 1-0 lead.

The second half was a little different, but not much. Liverpool still had most of the ball, but they were not afforded much more space.

Watford did venture forward more in an attempt to equalize, but the Reds could not spring counters too much.  Capoue almost found the tying shot, but was rewarded with a yellow card when he protested too loudly after not being given a corner when Simon Mignolet tipped it over the bar.

Liverpool should have doubled the lead in the 76th minute. Lallana was fed into the box alone, but the ball took a bobble and fell behind him. The defender was able to clear and the Reds did nothing with the ensuing corner.

The end of the contest was not exactly the stuff of legend. Too many balls aimlessly up in the air by both squads.

Daniel Sturridge came achingly close to scoring in added time. If not for a huge save from Gomes, it would have been 2-0.

In the end, Liverpool gained the 3 points. It was not a pretty but they won.

Watford almost tied it at the death,  but we're denied by the bar. Liverpool failed to capitalize on the break. Those final moments crystalized the game.

The Reds can't find ways to break down packed defenses. Still, they found that one moment and finally made the most of it.

Random Thoughts:
- can Liverpool get some luck with injury? For the last few years their stars keep going down. Danny Ings has been gine, Sturridge can't stay in, Mane is out and now Coutinho. Those are just the big names. All teams have injury, but it seems the Reds get them even worse.

- it's hard to pinpoint who needs to go or stay. As individuals, Liverpool have good players. If you can't comfortably beat the minnows though, you can't keep pinning title hope on other teams losing.

- you win how you win. However the Reds need to know they cannot rely on their back four to see these games out. Too many chances against. Liverpool must keep pressing to relieve pressure.

Walk On