REDS stunned at St Mary's

 

It was an evening in which the Reds were the antithesis of everything they have proved to be, with Loris Karius saving them from further embarrassment

Again, it was the goalkeeper dominating discussion for Liverpool. On this occasion though the spotlight was welcome rather than withering. 

The Merseysiders were abject in a 1-0 League Cup semi-final defeat at Southampton; the first-leg scoreline only respectable courtesy of Loris Karius’ service between the sticks.Lacking direction, explosiveness and intelligence, the performance at St Mary’s was the anthesis of what Liverpool expect of themselves. 

And they will be well aware of their fortune in exiting the south coast without more damage to circumvent in the home tie.

“We lost timing, we were not compact enough, and we had the wrong reaction after their goal,” Jurgen Klopp reflected.

“We started like we should have, but then everything changed. We made the wrong decisions, had the better chances and Loris had to save our life a few times.”

Indeed, it was Liverpool with the early ambition and initiative as Claude Puel’s side were comfortable constricting space and snuffing out attacking threats.

Despite dominating the ball, the only danger from the Reds materialised from a Roberto Firmino volley, which Fraser Forster was equal to.

The Brazilian connected after a clever Adam Lallana knockdown from Emre Can’s lofted pass into the box.

That passage of play signalled that perhaps Liverpool would find a route to rustle Southampton’s organisation, but it was the hosts who broke through. 

A cross from the right evaded both Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan to land at an unmarked Nathan Redmond at the back post. 

Karius, the centre of a criticism avalanche in December with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher chief among his detractors, rushed out and made himself big to restrict the 22-year-old’s options. The goalkeeper saved with his foot, but once again found himself exposed by his defence moments later.

Klavan completely misjudged a clearance, with Nathaniel Clyne not ensuring he was tight enough on Redmond. He was played through by Jay Rodriguez's nutmeg on Lovren and Karius was unable to make another massive intervention. 

But for the summer signing from Mainz, however, Liverpool would’ve gone into half-time chasing a greater deficit. Ryan Bertrand beat two passive markers close to the byline before supplying Dusan Tadic. His pass across the area was directed to Redmond, who saw his effort superbly thwarted by Karius. 

The German stopper ended the first 45 with more touches than Daniel Sturridge, Firmino and Lallana as Liverpool never turned up the gas in attack and were too yielding at the other end of the pitch. 

Cumbersome in possession, static in thought and betraying their 'simple and fast' blueprint, Klopp’s men struggled to manufacture any sort of menace in the final third. 

Firmino’s effort was their solitary shot on target before the break, on another occasion when the absence of Jordan Henderson proved telling.