Saints edged out at Anfield

premier-league Anfield | Sat 08 May 8.15PM | Attendance: 0
Match Report post Highlights

LIV vs SOU
Match Centre

LIV vs SOU As It Happened

Key moments so far

  • Saints leave Anfield empty handed despite matching the Reds for the majority of the tie
  • Thiago secures the points for Liverpool with a cool finish from 20 yards
  • HT: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton (Mané 30')
  • Mané heads Liverpool in front on the half-hour mark

Report: Saints edged out at Anfield

Southampton were made to rue missed chances at Anfield, where Liverpool kept alive their faint hopes of playing Champions League football next season. Read our report here.

22.16

FULL-TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

Alisson was handed the man of the match award for his part in the win, after denying Saints on multiple occasions. Goals scored either side of the break were enough to secure maximum spoils on the night, with Mané and Thiago on the scoresheet.

Thiago secures the points

Right on the stroke of 90 minutes, Thiago drifts inside and uses the tall frame of Vestergaard as a decoy. The shot takes a slight deflection off the Saints defender, putting it out of reach of Forster.

90’

GOAL

Thiago Alcántara do Nascimento (90’) | 2 0

Looking lively

Young Obafemi has caused problems since coming on, but Liverpool's defenders have been equal to the task. Walker-Peters's cross is cleared by Phillips, before he then clashes with Mané and requires treatment.

78’

Southampton substitution: Moussa Djenepo replaces Ché Adams

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Keep pressing, lads

Plenty of chances, but as yet, no breakthrough, as Adams is replaced by Djenepo,

77’

Equaliser goes begging

Adams is gifted a chance by Alisson, who has been otherwise solid all evening. The ball falls kindly to the Saints striker on the edge of the area, but he can't then beat Alisson, who recovered well.

71’

Diallo tests Alisson

Superb cushion header from Obafemi tees up Diallo, as the two substitutes combine well. The shot on the half volley stung the gloves of Alisson, but the save was routine. Resulting corner comes to nothing.

68’

Immediate imapct

Obafemi with a chance seconds after entering the field, linking well with Adams, but again Alisson is alert. He smothers the danger. At the opposite end, Mané and Salah combine once more but Stephens covers well and blocks the shot.

67’

Changes for Saints

Michael Obafemi comes on for his first appearance of 2021, following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while Diallo enters the fray in midfield, with Armstrong pushed out wide.

66’

Southampton substitution: Michael Obafemi replaces Nathan Tella

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66’

Southampton substitution: Ibrahima Diallo replaces Theo Walcott

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63’

Opportunity for Tella

Williams does well to marshall the Saints youngster in the end, but for a brief second, it looked like Tella had fashioned a yard of space inside the Liverpool box. He couldn't quite organise his feet in time, before Alisson intervened.

61’

Yellow Card for Nathan Redmond (Southampton)

60’

Saints snuff out danger

Sustained period of possession for the hosts, attempting to free Mané and Salah. In the end, Walker-Peters does well to close down the space, thwarting the former Saints man. Meanwhile, Redmond is booked for a pull back on Thiago.

50’

Jota tests Forster

Really tight angle, Forster makes the save at his near post. The resulting corner presented Williams with a chance to head at goal, but the pace on the cross made the attempt too difficult.

Back under way...

We're up and running again at Anfield.

First-half action 📸

A look at how the first-half unfolded at Anfield.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

Two big chances for Saints to make an impression on the scoreline, but as it stands, it's Liverpool who take their slender lead into the break. Mané with the goal.

45’

Sooooo close 😫

Saints deserve an equaliser, having had a handful of very promising chances. The latest fell to Tella, with Redmond crossing from the left. The header is a tame one, with Alisson catching comfortably.

41’

Promising platform

Free-kick in a dangerous position for Saints, as Walcott draws the foul from Mané. Prowsey delivers, but it's a Liverpool shirt who gets to the ball first.

38’

Redmond fires wide

On the half volley, the wide man was well picked out by Walcott at the back post but doesn't get a brilliant connection on the effort. The ball bounces wide of the near post.

36’

Salah denied

Trouble for Saints at the back, as Salah had the ball in a precarious position. Forster came out to close the danger, with Vestergaard also on the scene to help out. Eventually the Egyptian takes too many touches and Saints manage to clear.

35’

Walker-Peters carries Saints forward

The full-back hits a cross-cum-shot from the right, after evading a couple of Liverpool challenges. He certainly looks a threat when on the ball.

Mané heads home

Salah's cross is met by the head of Mané, 46 seconds after Alisson denied Ché Adams at the opposite end. The home side lead.

30’

GOAL

Sadio Mané (30’) | 1 0

30’

Saints go close...

It's a lovely ball from Walcott down the right, with Tella escaping down the channel. He squares a perfect pass towards Adams, who tries to dink it over Alisson but the keeper does well. Redmond has a chance on the follow up but again Alisson stands tall.

26’

Wijnaldum header clips bar

Forster at full stretch, as the midfielder met an out-swinging Alexander-Arnold corner. The header ends up marginally over the bar.

25’

Jota jinxs

A pass was fizzed into Mané's feet, who then in turn finds Jota. It's superb feet from the forward, but the shot was straight at Forster, who fists away. He's been kept busy, but is standing up to the challenge.

Adams hustling

Fairly quiet opening for Saints' #10.

21’

Redmond bends wide

The winger cuts inside and tries to bend one into the far corner, with Alexander-Arnold for company. The eventual shot took a slight knick off the Liverpool full-back, but a goal-kick is given.

19’

Salah denied by Forster

Mané keeps the ball alive after a Liverpool attack breaks down, which gives Salah the chance to shoot on goal. It was from a tight angle, which perhaps gave Forster the advantage, as he rebuffed with his legs. Good save.

16’

Purposeful from Redders

He uses some trickery to get to the byline and attempt a cross, winning a corner off Alexander-Arnold. Prowsey takes the kick, which results in another corner. Alisson clears.

10’

Mané fires over

Alexander-Arnold finds Mané on the edge of the Saints box, but the chance is wasted as he blasts over the bar. No trouble for Forster in goal.

👋 Kyle

Kyle Walker-Peters motoring down the right during the early stages.

8’

Smart play from Saints

Walcott ventures forward down the right and dinks a ball towards the back post, it's a smart run but the cross has no takers. The visitors enjoying plenty of the ball in these early stages.

2’

Prowsey corner

The captain delivers centrally, with Vestergaard meeting the ball. But the cross was too high for the defender, who is able to line up next to Jan Bednarek after his red card was rescinded in the week.

Players take the knee

The message from the players against racism takes place before kick-off. Saints kicking from left to right in this first half.... 

20.15

Here we go...

Saturday night football is upon us...

20.14

Warm-ups complete ✅

Players are emerging from the tunnel as we approach kick-off...

20.11

SCENE SET 📸

The stage is set at Anfield this evening. Kick-off is 8:15pm BST 👊

20.00

Congrats, Stu 👏

Stuart Armstrong is the latest Saint to make it to a century of club appearances! 💯

19.27

LIVERPOOL TEAM

Starting XI: Alisson (GK), Fabinho, Robertson, Phillips, R.Williams, Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum (c), Thiago, Mané, Jota, Salah. 


Subs: Adrián (GK), Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Woodburn, N.Williams, Koumetio. 

19.18

T E A M 😇

Starting XI: Forster (GK), Stephens, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse (c), Armstrong, Walcott, Redmond, Tella, Adams.

Subs: McCarthy (GK), Salisu, Ramsay, Diallo, Djenepo, Ferry, Jankewitz, Obafemi, Nlundulu.

19.15

STAT ATTACK 🤓

Southampton are looking to complete the league double over Liverpool for just the third time in their history, previously doing so in 1960-61 (Second Division) and 2003-04 (Premier League).

19.00

TEAM NEWS 🔜

Who makes your starting XI tonight, Saints fans? Team news incoming soon...

18.58

FLASHBACK: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool 🔥

Last time out against Liverpool, Danny Ings took centre stage...

18.16

Sportsbet.io Goal of the Month: April

Each month we bring you the best goals from across the club, in association with Sportsbet.io. Choose your favourite here.

18.13

SAINTS: Collector's edition out now

SAINTS is back! Southampton’s popular matchday publication will return for the club’s final home game of the season against Leeds United on Tuesday 18th May. Pre-order NOW.

18.10

i think the weekend is very much about mentality and very much about committed defending.

ralph hasenhüttl
southampton fc manager
18.03

Tactical Watch: Tireless Adams can trouble Liverpool

This weekend Southampton have the opportunity to play spoiler to Liverpool’s fading Champions League hopes – and in the process complete a league double over the Reds for the first time since 2004. Read up on this week's Tactical Watch piece, by Sam Tighe.

18.01

#OnThisDay: Saints snatch victory at Swansea 😇

Manolo Gabbiadini netted the winner as Saints all but secured their Premier League safety back in 2018.

17.58

📍 Staplewood Campus

Check in on how the players have been preparing this week at Staplewood...

15.55

Hasenhüttl previews Anfield trip

Want to catch up on what the boss had to say ahead of tonight's Premier League clash? It's all included here!

15.54

Prowsey continues to shine 

No Saints player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than James Ward-Prowse (14 – 8 goals, 6 assists). His eight goals are the most he’s ever scored in a top-flight campaign, while only in 2014-15 did he register as many assists (also 6).

10.12

WELCOME TO MATCHDAY 👊

Welcome to matchday, Saints! Five games to go, and today we're up at Anfield to take on Liverpool. Ralph Hasenhüttl's side pulled off a famous 1-0 victory over the Reds back in January, reducing the manager to tears, but today's matchup presents a whole different ball game. We'll be bringing you all the action live as it happens, including team news at 7:15pm BST.

09.53

LIV vs SOU Line Ups

Liverpool

1
Alisson (GK)
46
Rhys Williams
66
Trent Alexander-Arnold
26
Andrew Robertson
47
Nathaniel Phillips
6
Thiago goal
5
Georginio Wijnaldum (C)
3
Fabinho
11
Mohamed Salah
replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (87′)
20
Diogo Jota
replace Roberto Firmino (79′)
10
Sadio Mané goal
replace Curtis Jones (93′)
13
Adrián
76
Neco Williams
21
Konstantinos Tsimikas
23
Xherdan Shaqiri
15
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
89
Billy Koumetio
17
Curtis Jones
9
Roberto Firmino
58
Ben Woodburn

Southampton

44
Fraser Forster (GK)
2
Kyle Walker-Peters
4
Jannik Vestergaard
5
Jack Stephens
35
Jan Bednarek
32
Theo Walcott
replace Ibrahima Diallo (66′)
8
James Ward-Prowse (C)
17
Stuart Armstrong
11
Nathan Redmond yellow card
23
Nathan Tella
replace Michael Obafemi (66′)
10
Che Adams
replace Moussa Djenepo (79′)
14
Michael Obafemi
40
Daniel N'Lundulu
47
Will Ferry
27
Ibrahima Diallo
12
Moussa Djenepo
22
Mohammed Salisu
1
Alex McCarthy
31
Kayne Ramsay
64
Alexandre Jankewitz

LIV vs SOU Match Stats

Liverpool

Head to Head Stats

Southampton
  • Possession (%)
    54
    comparison angle
    46
  • Shots
    14
    comparison angle
    12
  • Shots on target
    6
    comparison angle
    6
  • Corners
    8
    comparison angle
    4
  • Passes Complete
    486
    comparison angle
    401

Top Saints Player Stats

shots on target
Shots On Target
2
Ché Adams
Ché Adams
chances created
Chances Created
2
Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
passes completed
Passes Completed
61
Jannik Vestergaard
Jannik Vestergaard
tackles
Tackles
6
Kyle Walker-Peters
Kyle Walker-Peters
clearances
Clearances
7
Jan Bednarek
Jan Bednarek
saves
Saves
4
Fraser Forster
Fraser Forster