Liverpool’s revival under Brendan Rodgers continues. Liverpool rose to sixth in the table, overtaking Tottenham Hotspur, and moving to within a point of Southampton through Philippe Coutinho’s marvelous strike and Raheem Sterling’s clinical finish. Liverpool were never at their fluid best but there is a resilience to them, and it is now 469 minutes since they last conceded an away goal in the league.
Rodgers applauded his players off the pitch at the end, embracing Simon Mignolet, who seems a far more assertive keeper now, and also his captain Jordan Henderson, who was tireless in midfield. Liverpool fans sang Rodgers’ names while those remaining Southampton supporters turned their venom on the referee, Kevin Friend.
The debate over refereeing standards in the Premier League also continues and the IFAB meeting next weekend in Belfast is particularly well-timed, especially as the game’s Law-makers are due to discuss video technology. The first half here could provide plenty of evidence for the urgent need for referees to have help. Southampton found Friend to be more foe in Minute 1, Minute 4, Minute 45 to use Jose Mourinho’s pithy style.
Liverpool could have been trailing 2-1 within five yet found themselves leading through Coutinho’s majestic strike which came between Southampton’s early penalty claims. The first came after only a few seconds when Filip Djuricic sped down the inside-right channel into the Liverpool area, catching out Emre Can, the left-sided of Rodgers’ three centre-halves.
You beauty: Coutinho scored a delicious opener in the third minute Photo: PA
Can placed his right hand gently on Djuricic’s shoulder, and the Serbian midfielder on loan from Benfica fell to the soaken earth. There was definite contact, Djuricic was definitely slowed, but Friend decided there was no foul, much to the 23-year-old’s frustration.
As Southampton were absorbing the injustice, Liverpool went for the jugular. Lazar Markovic, playing a left wing-back role that tested his modest defensive qualities, was struggling to deal with Southampton’s right-back, Nathaniel Clyne, but suddenly broke forward, picking out Coutinho, who was 25 yards from goal. The Brazilian took the ball in his stride, and strucking the ball with power and a touch of swerve, sending it flying high into the net, giving Fraser Forster no chance. It was on a par with his gem against Bolton Wanderers. Coutinho tends not to do many tap-ins.
Southampton fans briefly stopped barracking their old players Adam Lallana and particularly Dejan Lovren to focus again on Friend. After four minutes, the lively Djuricic charged into the box and was tripped by the right leg of the stretching Joe Allen. Any hopes that Djuricic might have harboured of getting up and continuing were ended when Lovren arrived to knock him over. The ball fell to Eljero Elia, whose shot was well-saved by Mignolet.
Such was St Mary’s frustration with Friend that Southampton fans erupted in mocking cheers when Friend punished Markovic for another foul on Clyne. The referee then decided that the sliding Jose Fonte had not fouled Sterling when making contact with the ball first and then his momentum taking him into the Liverpool attacker.
When the Liverpool centre-forward, Rickie Lambert, began warming up, he was applauded warmly by many Southampton fans, following his 117 goals in 235 appearances for them and also the more dignified manner in which he left St Mary’s last summer.
The noise continued, this time involving more ironic cheers for Friend when Lovren was booked for a foul on James Ward-Prowse. Yet the Leicestershire official then became involved in more controversy as Elia raced through, attempting to lift the ball over Mignolet as the half closed. The ball hit the Liverpool keeper in the chest as he was rushing towards the edge of the area, but bounced up and struck his arm as he leapt through the air outside the box. Mignolet ran on and cleared. In the home technical area, Ronald Koeman threw his arms up in the air in disgust. When Friend brought the half to a close, St Mary’s was engulfed in boos.
Both managers made a change at the break. Morgan Schneiderlin came on for Steven Davis while Alberto Moreno replaced Markovic. Neither side were really impressing. Graziano Pelle was struggling to escape Martin Skrtel and when he did find space could not get his shot on target. Southampton need Pelle to re-discover his early-season form quickly.
Nine minutes later, Koeman twisted again, sending on Sadio Mane for Ward-Prowse, trying to get more service to Pelle. Lallana was then removed – to much crowing from the home fans - after 61 minutes for Daniel Sturridge, who then dummied his way past Fonte but over-elaborated on his 50th league appearance for the club.
With 17 minutes remaining, Liverpool doubled their lead with only their third effort of the game. Schneiderlin lost the ball in midfield, gifting possession to Moreno. Matt Targett attempted to clear but succeeded only in transferring the ball to Sterling, who shot confidently past Forster.
Rodgers sought to close down the game, sending on Glen Johnson for Jordan Ibe while Koeman introduced Dusan Tadic for Djuricic. Southampton have lost their cutting edge, a point confirmed when Tadic met a free-kick powerfully but Mignolet saved well.
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