Southampton 1-0 Liverpool: Danny Ings scores winner as Saints beat leaders
Southampton #Southampton
Danny Ings’ goal was his 50th in the Premier League, with 36 coming for Southampton
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence suffered a setback as they fell to defeat at Southampton on Monday.
Danny Ings’ superb second-minute lob over Reds goalkeeper Alisson, from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick, settled the contest against his former club.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, for whom this was a second league loss of the season, remain top of the table on goal difference but have taken only two points from the past nine available.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City will leapfrog the reigning champions if they win their games in hand.
Southampton’s first win in five Premier League games sees them climb to sixth.
And the hosts were good value for their victory, forcing the pace early on against an unfamiliar Reds backline containing Jordan Henderson and then defending resolutely as the visitors poured forward after the break.
Superb Saints
While Liverpool can point to the huge void at the heart of their defence and several injured stars, it should also be acknowledged that Southampton began this contest without several key performers.
Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy’s positive coronavirus test meant Fraser Forster came in for a first Premier League home appearance since December 2017.
And with Jannik Vestergaard, Oriol Romeu and Che Adams also injured, Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl could ill afford to see Moussa Djenepo limp off after 32 minutes, during which he had caused Trent Alexander-Arnold several problems down the left.
Initially at least, they continued to play in their normal style, trying to retain possession and work the ball into promising positions out wide.
Nathan Tella’s curling, right-foot shot, after Ings had expertly cushioned the ball into his path, almost brought the reward of a second goal.
However, after the break it was very much rearguard action from the Saints, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens making seven clearances each to repel wave after wave of Liverpool attacks.
That resilience was underlined by restricting the Reds to just one shot on target – a Sadio Mane effort in the 75th minute.
More to follow.
Player of the match
IngsDanny Ings
Line-ups Southampton
Substitutes
Liverpool
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Southampton 1, Liverpool 0.
90’+4′
Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Liverpool 0.
90’+4′
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
90’+3′
Attempt missed. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.
90’+3′
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
90’+2′
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
88′
Offside, Southampton. Fraser Forster tries a through ball, but Daniel N’Lundulu is caught offside.
85′
Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
85′
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84′
Attempt blocked. Yan Valery (Southampton) right footed shot from long range on the right is blocked. Assisted by Jack Stephens.
82′
Substitution, Southampton. Yan Valery replaces Theo Walcott.
79′
Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
79′
Foul by Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool).
79′
Nathan Tella (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
79′
Attempt blocked. Thiago (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
78′
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
77′
Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.
77′
Substitution, Southampton. Daniel N’Lundulu replaces Danny Ings.
77′
Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
77′
Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Xherdan Shaqiri.
