Man City made a move and Liverpool retaliated
ensuring that the Premier League title battle will be decided on the final day of the season
Following City’s narrow victory over Newcastle, which required a three-goal comeback to clinch all three points, Liverpool similarly fell down early but came back to win on the season’s penultimate matchday. With the Reds behind by a point at the top of the standings, the two teams will try to outperform each otheron Sunday.
With a deflected shot 13 minutes in, Nathan Redmond put Southampton ahead early and placed Liverpool‘s title hopes on life support. In spurts, the hosts were dangerous, but they had to fend off waves of Liverpool pressure and attack.
Takumi Minamino, making his first Premier League appearance for Liverpool after a loan spell at Southampton last season, equalised for the Reds. After halftime, Joel Matip hooked an ungainly but successful header into the back of the net from a corner to give the Reds the lead.
With liverpool spurs chasing an unprecedented quadruple, Jurgen Klopp now has two finals to look forward to as the season winds down: one in the Premier League against
Wolves and one in the Champions League against Barcelona.
The only wrinkle is Man City must slip for Liverpool to have a chance to claim them both.
With his starting lineup, Jurgen Klopp clearly emphasised the Champions League, and the bare minimum was accomplished.
Southampton gave it their all at times, worrying Liverpool on several occasions, but they were unable to build on Nathan Redmond’s early goal.
90+1 minutes: Southampton comes out with a surprising burst of positive attacking play, reminding the visitors that the game is far from over. Liverpool just escapes the onslaught. Che Adams came very close to firing a shot.
Alex McCarthy gives the ball away in a weak attempt to play out of the back in the 86th minute, and Curtis Jones scores. Ibrahima Konate heads over on the set-piece after it is deflected behind her. Over the last 10-15 minutes, Liverpool has appeared to be less dangerous. While the Reds will be pleased with the win, they will have wished for a more prolific offensive effort.
79th min: Southampton brought Oriol Romeu and Stuart Armstrong on a few minutes ago, and Liverpool is now finding it more difficult to get through. Southampton packed in while defending, clearly directed to avoid conceding another first. Liverpool pressing very high after losing the ball, but Southampton dealing with the pressure well.
Jurgen Klopp brings on Naby Keita for Roberto Firmino, which sees Minamino move back into the front line.
73rd min: An awkward moment for Liverpool as a cross from the left forces Kostas Tsimikas to put it out over the end line for a Southampton corner. Tsimikas just stuck his foot out at it and lashed the ball dangerously past the Liverpool goal.
67th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL! How has Joel Matip found the back of the net there? As a Liverpool corner swung in, Mohamed Elyounoussi was the first to meet it, but his cleared header didn’t make it far enough. Matip just casually pinged it towards goal, and it found the top corner in agonizing fashion, almost in slow motion as it looped through the air.
It’s a clunky effort, maybe even deflecting off Kyle Walker-Peters who challenged with Matip for the header, but it won’t matter for the Reds. On a night the Reds need a win, style points don’t matter.
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