Southampton managed to scrape a last gasp result at Anfield after Sadio Mane was able to scramble a goal past Liverpool in the dying moments of the match in a toughly contested 1-1 draw.
After a slow start to the game, both teams grew into the match and had a few half chances here and there throughout the first half. Liverpool came close on a couple of occasions through ex-Saint, Adam Lallana finding his way into the Southampton box with clever inverted runs away from Ryan Bertrand, however The Saints’ defence remained strong to shun the half chances that Liverpool had in the first half. Southampton also had their fair share of opportunities, with Virgil van Dijk failing to make the most of Liverpool’s poor marking from a Steven Davis, diverting the ball straight at Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal, when he should have really scored. Van Dijk was at the centre of the action moments later as a deep cross fell to him on the right hand side of the box, before the Dutchman nodded across to try to find Sadio Mane in the centre of the goal, but his effort was cleared away with ease by a resilient Liverpool team.
At half time, Jurgen Klopp decided to make his first change of the afternoon, substituting the hugely ineffective Divock Origi for the returning Christian Benteke after a minor injury, and it turned out to be a crucial moment in the match.
On the 77th minute, Liverpool took the lead after a very well worked goal against the run of play, shortly after Graziano Pelle missed a shot at the other end. James Milner picked the ball up 35 yards from goal on the right hand side and managed to whip in an extremely inviting ball into the 18-yard box as Benteke rose above Southampton captain Fonte to power in a simply brilliant header past Maarten Stekelenburg in The Saints’ net to score the first Premier League goal of Liverpool’s era under Jurgen Klopp.
However, Klopp’s opposite number Ronald Koeman had a trick up his sleeve to change the game also, in the form of Gaston Ramirez. It was the Uruguayan’s first Premier League appearance for Southampton in over two seasons, and when it mattered the most, he popped up with a lovely assist.
James Milner picked up a booking on the 85th minute mark after chopping down Ryan Bertrand in the final third. James Ward-Prowse then whipped the ball into the crowded Liverpool penalty area before the ball met the head of substitute Gaston Ramirez who lifted a wonderfully cushioned header over to Sadio Mane at the back post who scrambled the ball across the line to equalise for Southampton in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The importance of this goal was clear to Southampton, as it put them on course to maintain their unbeaten record away from home, however it kick-started an incredibly bizarre ten minute period for goal-scorer Sadio Mane.
The Senegalese forward, 5 minutes after finding the net for his team, picked up his second booking of the season after Liverpool substitute Roberto Firmino broke away from Mane, who proceeded to cynically clip his heel, leaving the referee no choice but to book Mane. However, just 3 minutes later, Mane was given his marching orders by referee Andre Marriner. After losing his balance, Mane tripped up Alberto Moreno on the left hand side, quite unnecessarily it has to be said, again leaving Marriner no choice but to show Mane the red card.
However, a resilient Southampton side managed to withstand the Liverpool pressure to clinch a very important point at Anfield to take them up to 8th place, with Liverpool just one place behind them.
How did you think we played against Liverpool?
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