Southampton 2-0 Liverpool - match report

Last updated : 10 January 2002 By Alyson Rudd, The Times
Sure, the recent slump in Liverpool’s form could have occurred had Houllier not fallen ill. After all, Phil Thompson, his assistant, produced some memorable displays in the wake of his boss’s ailment, but if Liverpool are to win their first Premiership title, they need a boost, and quick.

However, if his doctors have been watching Liverpool they might well conclude that Houllier should not endure the frustration that his side are inducing. ”We’re doing the same things as we would be doing under Gérard,” Thompson said, adding that he would have a message waiting. “I have quite a good idea what he’ll be saying.”

Southampton, meanwhile, continue to enjoy their tough run of fixtures. They meet Liverpool again in nine days’ time and they cannot wait. Southampton are on a roll, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur, played well in defeat against Leeds United and startling Chelsea with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Thompson will hope that they can continue on that path when Manchester United visit on Sunday — for Liverpool’s main chance of the title is down to their rivals also dropping points.

Liverpool, crucially were without Michael Owen, who was not risked because of bruising to an ankle. No one watching Liverpool can quite forget about Owen even when he is not there. A superb pass by Jari Litmanen left Nicolas Anelka, not a slow forward, with only Paul Williams among the defenders to beat. He had a head start but Williams caught him. Owen, you knew, would have summoned at least a shot on target.

It was an open game with Southampton full of newfound confidence, but the best chances fell to Liverpool in the first half. Litmanen flicked the ball into the path of Anelka, whose fine shot brought a splendid reaction save from Jones. Mostly, however, the visiting team were frustrated by sheer workrate.

Strachan’s side were less interested in precise delicate passes but effective all the same, with Marian Pahars a threatening foil to James Beattie’s strength.

Liverpool’s penchant for the elaborate continued into the second half. A lovely move twice involving, inevitably, Litmanen fell apart as Anelka failed to keep up with the intricacy of it all. It was as if Liverpool were determined to prove that they can play well without Owen. So much criticism of late has concentrated on the one-dimensional, or Owen-dimensional, nature of their game. Last night they almost dispensed with pace, attempting to walk the ball into the back of the net.

On the hour the Liverpool defence became uncharacteristically flustered at a Southampton corner and the ball bobbled around inside the penalty area. Thirty seconds later their nervousness was betrayed by a foul committed by Sami Hyypia on Matt Oakley. Graham Poll, the referee, awarded a penalty and Beattie’s powerful strike left Jerzy Dudek floundering.

By this juncture Liverpool had Litmanen, Anelka and Emile Heskey on the pitch — a rather potent three-pronged force. But Southampton have learnt in recent weeks to ignore reputations. Perhaps it was the 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford that made them rethink their philosophy.

Liverpool needed a more immediate rethink and Thompson brought on John Arne Riise. It seemed the right move, for Liverpool needed to get behind Southampton and Riise can do that from his position at full back.

The decision backfired. Riise scored a horrible own goal, heading in Pahars’s cross, the ball looping over his goalkeeper’s head. “It’s the biggest game on the calendar when Liverpool come to town,” Thompson said, but if they do not find consistency soon, teams will look forward to meeting them for the wrong reasons.