Topic: Half time: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool

[Filler.]

3 up front in the middle, with full backs deep in their half, and just as I was thinking... 'I hope they don't break here'... and off they go... and a move or two later... a goal. Only a quarter way thru here.

[richmiller1]

On the plus side, none of them will be knackered for the weekend after that gentle trundle. Sigh.

Second half must be better.

[Butcher Knife Roberto]

Oh and Sky couldn't be fucking happier that we are losing. They obviously don't see Saints as any sort of threat towards their preferred football partner in the final.

[jooneyisdagod]

So boring to. I think the lack of pace is doing us endless harm with our inability to pop the ball to Mane to beat a man. This performance is quite reminiscent of previous years when we didn't have that option and had to keep circulating the ball.

[Red_Irishman]

Woeful, woeful performance. If we bring this to the table on Sunday were fucked.

Hopefully Klopp gives them an earful because this is heading south big time.

[JackWard33]

Also stop booting the ball up to sturridge as he loses every aerial battle

Booting it long and crossing it from high and wide for Bobby and Sturridge ... pretty weird

[HeartAndSoul]

Lucas can and gini in midfield. Says it all

[ScubaSteve]

on the upside,  We've already got loads of league cups......

Made me laugh but we need more 

[telekon]

Can off, put Lallana back in his best position and get Origi on out wide

Rather take Gini out, he's looked lost all game. Can has been running like a madman.

[PeterTheRed ...]

One of our poorest performances under Klopp. Serious lack of effort and discipline. Hopefully, Klopp will kick some arses at half-time.

[Asam]

Team is missing penetration out wide, the ability of Mane to get in behind a defence is a huge miss, centre of midfield is unbalanced, we need Lallana back in the midfield, bring on Coutinho for Lucas, his partnership with Firmino may give us the spark we are missing

[Redsnappa]

Can off the option for me, Lucas has done alright.

I thought so too. Can in the middle of a dreadful run of form, running into people, passing astray, Lucas  pinging the ball around.

Firming still pining for Phil.

Oh well, quarter time. Don't let another one in Reds. Get yer mojo back.

[Rush 82]

I'm shocked a Lucas, Can and Wijnaldum midfield hasn't created anything.......

Me too. 

Amazed like

[clinical]

Missing Mane big time.

Exactly amazes me how much Klopp has let us rely on a player like him. I know we have no europe but there is no squad depth

[gatcliffe]

Can played against Plymouth and has been woeful tonight

What's new the guy gives us nothing.

[Pie Eyed]

We need to get a grip on this game.

We're panicking when faced with the 6+3 - 0 - 1 formation, with quick breaks as the main attacks, which is what we'll be facing again on Sunday.

The lumping crosses are fucking atrocious.  We need to play to feet in the box.

Trouble is that Southampton seem to have us figured out (at least a little bit) - Stand of us and pack the box when we get possession, and do not step out to try to take the ball away.

Basically, if you remain pretty much static, with 9 men behind the ball, you nullify our attack.

I agree with posters above, who suggest removing either Lucas or Can, as we don't need that level of control in midfield - We need to be streaming forward as a team.

Anyway, hope Jürgen gets them sorted at half-time and we come out firing in the second quarter.

Oh - And really good performance for Karius so far.  Could easily be 3 down by now but for 2 great saves.

[Roger Federer]

Nice to see Karius playing so well, apart from two really good saves he looks composed and confident. Not much else to say, we're not great today, lack creativity and need to play Lallana deeper. Our midfield struggles without him.

[Solomon Grundy]

Get Stewart on and at least see a bit of effort and energy.

 Can off for Origi. Drop Lallana back into midfield. Bring Coutinho on later for Firmino or Sturridge.

[JackWard33]

Not sure 433 makes much sense with the personnel available does it?

[FlashGordon]

We're 13-2 to win at the moment. Fill your boots.

[Upinsmoke]

The way we've been playing lately doesn't fill me with optimism for the rest of the season. Even against City it was a case of digging in for the entire second half. Haven't played well since Stoke at home.

[number 168]

Lucas off, Coutinho on. The number of times he received the ball near the edge of their penalty area only to look for a player out wide... Coutinho would be shooting on site.

Everyone has been doing that. From deeper Lucas is the only one picking out a direct forward pass. Can has been poor and Wjnaldum anonymous.

[John C]

When teams sit so deep it's always tough.  Have to avoid giving shite goals away though and take the 0-0 if need be.

Do you think they'd let us if we asked nicely

[Greek Ern]

Karius and Lucas doing well.  The rest need to step it up.

[Ski]

I'd get divock on and drop lallana back into the middle 3.

[Nick110581]

Not sure 433 makes much sense with the personnel available does it?

Looks like a diamond tho.

[Butcher Knife Roberto]

At least one Redknapp talks some sense. Needs to be much faster in the second half, that was played at the pace of the old priests in the Craggy Island v Rugged Island match.

[Son of Spion]

Honestly, would almost worry more about us going complacently into a 2nd leg tie with a 1-0 lead, against opposition with nothing to fear.

If they have something to protect at Anfield, we'll just attack for 90 mins and surely blitz them.

And they'll do exactly what they are doing now. Pack their defence so we toil and struggle but hit us fas on the break.

Such a simple game-plan, but one we forever struggle against.

[Titi Camara]

Really poor at the moment.  Even with a semi we have zero penetration.

Ha ha like trying to squeeze marshmallows through a key hole lol

[CoventryYNWA]

Without Hendo moving that ball about in midfield and a really flat midfield of players of a similar ilk we will struggle, we need to be able to cope with injuries and absences and look at least close to how we play with our normal 11 here, too many similar players in the same line up makes you predictable. Who is going to play between the lines and feed our front 3 out of Can Lucas and Wijnaldum? I dont get it

[Bangin Them In]

Lets never speak of this again

[JackWard33]

The way we've been playing lately doesn't fill me with optimism for the rest of the season. Even against City it was a case of digging in for the entire second half. Haven't played well since Stoke at home.

In fairness our best defender, best midfielder and best attacker are out. Need them back to hit our level

[Durlmints]

Drop Lapland back

Lapland early out warming up for the second half. Caught cold in the first 45.

[Midget]

We look worryingly one-paced again after Mane went off to Africa. Just like last season. Too many players with similiar strenghts.

[cowtownred]

Thank God for Karius. Been excellent.

I await being shot down by the football afficionados, but can anyone explain to me what it is that Wijnaldum actually does??? Seriously.

[liverpool185]

Karius looks like he has gained back some confidence, couple great saves to keep us in it and a good punch from a corner.

[M7 Heckler]

Rather take Gini out, he's looked lost all game. Can has been running like a madman.

Running after nothing though. He's been sluggish and slow every time the ball comes anywhere near him.

If he carries on like this he will never pip klavan to the ballon d'or

[Chakan]

I think we'll improve in the second half, we seem to be better at playing after half time.

We can't fucking get any worse...

[JackWard33]

Looks like a diamond tho.

It looks drunk

Dunno what it's supposed to be

[Gnurglan]

This!!

Take off Can for Origi and stick Lallana back in midfield. Lucas having a decent game

Agree about Lucas. We need more from the attacking players in this game. So far they haven't turned up.