Hoping I can find a decent stream for this, having a feeling this could help define our season.
After a decent performance and an excellent result at Spurs last week, we finally have that win against a top side that has eluded us for so long a majority of this season. For all the mini decent runs we have managed to fathom together, the exhilarating wins against the lesser sides we have struggled with for what seems like a millennia until now, we have come up very short against the likes of West Brom and Villa at pivotal points in the campaign; here we find ourselves in another mentally defining moment. A win here will do wonders for our confidence going into the business end of the season, and give us a solid platform for the run-in. After arguably underperforming but getting three points against Spurs, we’ve finally turned our fortunes around and achieved something we’ve failed to do all season till now. We must kick on and show
consistency, the key word for me today and the key for us going into next season.
Southampton at home will pose similar problems for us as Spurs did. They will press us high up the pitch, have quick, strong, dangerous players in the final third with Gaston, Puncheon, and Lallana, and a consistent finisher up top in Lambert. Whilst not fighting for a top four finish, they are battling to be at the top of the four at the less glamorous end of the spectrum, and that for us could ultimately be more dangerous. Teams in Southampton’s situation have a grit and determination about them to try and salvage another season in the big time and a team with little to play for like ourselves can be on the wrong end of a result against a side with so much in the balance. Today could be a real slog at the office for Liverpool and being mentally prepared for such an occasion will be very important.
As for the starting 11, I wouldn’t change too much after almost a full weeks rest. Pepe in nets - the back four looking like Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique - Lucas sitting, Gerrard play making just ahead of him, with Downing tucking in right and Coutinho a free role from the left - Suarez and Sturridge to lead the line. We will set up with Agger and Johnson with the two most progressive defenders, Lucas tucking between Dan and Martin, with Gerrard controlling the direction of the play from the centre circle. Downing no doubt will try and get on his right foot from the right midfield position, whilst Coutinho will pull wide to stretch the play for Suarez and Sturridge and try and hit the D from there when he has the ball. Suarez will drop nearest to the #10 role for the majority but both Coutinho and Sturride have the ability to pop in there if Suarez is running in behind or pulling his centre half wide. Some clever lifted balls from the likes of Gerrard, Downing and Coutinho could see Sturridge get good opportunities in behind the Soton back line and of course Suarez can carve out chances by skinning a thousand defenders and dancing round the goalkeeper. There should be no shortage of chances, probably at both ends
Our game somewhat suits the saints. We haven’t got a real target man up top, we don’t use force to bombard our opponents and they can try and nick something with an individual error pressing us high up the pitch. I think they’ll get chances and although not prolific, they aren’t what you’d call poor from set pieces, so Agger and Skrtel need to be alert in order to not concede at least once given the way the system currently exploits us at times defensively. However a quick glance at a Soton forum tells you that although we are the kind of team they’d prefer to play in terms of style, collectively they worry that they’ll lose too many individual battles with the likes of Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge to concede less than 2 or 3, and given our current riches in front of goal, I agree with them. They may score, but unless they do it first and hold out for a considerable amount of time, I fancy our chances.
It’s going one of two ways for me. We score first and stuff them by three, four goals or so, or they get their goal, keep us behind, and we end up getting punished on the break and lose 2-0 or something. Would put money on a 4-1 victory though
