Match ends, Liverpool 0, Southampton 0.
LiverpoolLiverpool0SouthamptonSouthampton0
James Milner missed a second-half penalty as Liverpool's hopes of securing a Premier League top-four spot suffered a blip in a goalless draw against Southampton.
It was a terrible spectacle for the supporters inside Anfield. Liverpool rarely tested Saints keeper Fraser Forster, bar the penalty and Marko Grujic's header late in the game. The visitors, meanwhile, failed to muster even one effort on target.
The Reds' best chance to score came in the 66th minute when they won a penalty after Southampton's Jack Stephens was judged to have handled Lucas' delivery.
Milner, who had not missed from the spot in the league since November 2009, saw his effort saved by Forster who dived low to his right. Seconds earlier, the England keeper approached the midfielder as he attempted to place the ball on the spot - and the tactic seemed to work.
The draw sees the Reds move up to third, above Manchester City, on 70 points. However, Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand.
Manchester United are five points behind after losing to Arsenal, who are two points further back.
Liverpool underwhelm in crucial period
It was dire. Truly dire. Was the first half of this match the worst seen in the Premier League this season?
The home sections at Anfield must have thought they were in for a treat - the sun was shining and they knew their team had to take the game to Southampton with a Champions League spot at stake.
But instead of a siege on Forster's goal, what they witnessed during that opening period were their players joining the Saints on the beach.
The first 45 minutes were slow and ponderous, and the only exertions by the Southampton keeper were three very comfortable saves.
The second half followed a similar pattern up until the penalty, which was a correct decision by referee Bobby Madley with the Stephens' arm moving up to push the ball away.
However, Milner - who last missed a Premier League penalty playing for Aston Villa against Bolton - saw his effort saved by Forster. Was he put off his stride by the keeper confronting him moments earlier?
Forster kept his concentration right up until the final few minutes of the game when he reacted brilliantly to tip over substitute Grujic's header.
The Reds have now played Southampton four times this season and failed to score against them.
Saints play on the back foot but get a point
Southampton boss Claude Puel appeared somewhat surprised this week when he was asked about reports regarding his future.
It had been suggested that some players had become disillusioned with his style of management.
Their Premier League status was only made secure with Hull's defeat on Saturday, and they came into the match on the back of two defeats and a draw.
At Anfield, the team must have bored their travelling fans into submission.
The graphic above shows that they mostly sat in their own half for the opening 45 minutes, and for the first time since they returned to the top flight in 2012 they failed to have a single effort in the first half of a match. An angled strike by Nathan Redmond in the second half was the closest they came to scoring - although it was a few yards wide.
Having been spoilt for entertainment when their team was managed by Ronald Koeman and Mauricio Pochettino, some Southampton fans must be wondering what type of football awaits them next season if Puel stays.
Man of the match - Fraser Forster (Southampton)
'Southampton did not create anything'
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "I thought our performance was good enough to win. Southampton wanted to come here and somehow get a point, or more - I'm fine with defending.
"They did not create anything and we had a hard job to do. To play against 10 deep defending Southampton players is very difficult. We could have scored, that would have opened them up a bit. It is a point more, but it doesn't feel like that.
"It is not finished yet. We all have to play our games. We go to West Ham and try to win, and that's all we can do. We try everything and we do not stop."
Saints manager Claude Puel: "I think it was a fantastic job for us. We defended very well and with quality and good organisation.
"Perhaps we could have done better with the counter-attack, but we showed good energy, spirit and organisation.
"It was difficult for them to come into our box and for me it was a harsh penalty and a good save. It was a deserved point."
Forster: 'Liverpool's nemesis' - the stats
- Liverpool have drawn 0-0 home and away against the same opponent in a Premier League season for the first time since 2008-09 against Stoke.
- The Reds had 32 shots in the league matches without scoring against the Saints this season.
- Jurgen Klopp has never beaten Southampton in the Premier League (D3 L1) - indeed, he has now faced them more than any other opponent without winning.
- Forster saved his first Premier League penalty - Milner's effort was the ninth he'd faced.
- Forster was the first opposition goalkeeper to save a league penalty at Anfield since Rob Green stopped Steven Gerrard's effort for QPR in May 2015.
- Indeed, only Vito Mannone (13 for Sunderland in January) has made more saves against Liverpool in a Premier League game this season than Forster (eight).
- Only Hull (12) have conceded more Premier League penalties this season than Southampton (nine).
- The Saints failed to have a single shot on target in either Premier League game against Liverpool this season.
What's next?
The Reds are at West Ham next Sunday (14:15 BST) and the Saints are at St Mary's on Wednesday to face Arsenal (19:45 BST).
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Mignolet
- 2Clyne
- 32Matip
- 6LovrenBooked at 89mins
- 7Milner
- 23Can
- 21Pezzini LeivaSubstituted forLallanaat 69'minutes
- 5WijnaldumSubstituted forGrujicat 87'minutes
- 11Firmino
- 27OrigiSubstituted forSturridgeat 69'minutes
- 10Coutinho
Substitutes
- 1Karius
- 15Sturridge
- 16Grujic
- 17Klavan
- 18Moreno
- 20Lallana
- 66Alexander-Arnold
Southampton
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Forster
- 2Cédric SoaresBooked at 65mins
- 24Stephens
- 3Yoshida
- 21BertrandBooked at 90mins
- 11Tadic
- 8Davis
- 14Romeu
- 16Ward-ProwseBooked at 65mins
- 19BoufalSubstituted forRedmondat 60'minutes
- 20GabbiadiniSubstituted forLongat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Long
- 9Rodríguez
- 12Cáceres
- 22Redmond
- 23Højbjerg
- 26Pied
- 40Hassen
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 53,159
Match Stats
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamSouthampton
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away0
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Southampton 0.
Booking
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Milner (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
Post update
Attempt saved. Marko Grujic (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Milner with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge.
Booking
Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Post update
Hand ball by Dejan Lovren (Liverpool).
Post update
Attempt missed. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge.
Post update
Marko Grujic (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Bertrand (Southampton).
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Marko Grujic replaces Georginio Wijnaldum.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cédric Soares with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by James Milner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nathaniel Clyne.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jack Stephens.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Lallana.
Post update
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge.
Comments
Join the conversation
The Anti Liverpool brigade ULTRAS are in
Liverfool
Liverpoo
Loserpool
Where can I hide ?
Don't let them get me !
Klopp is to blame for the poor display and inability to break down teams who park the bus. He is also to blame for the poor defence.
However those calling for his head are being a tad hasty. For the first 4 months
LFC were virtually unplayable.
Klopp's main fault has been not buying enough bench strength.
So Masterful
So Assertive
So Imperious
So Domineering
So Superior
So Authoritative
So Overbearing
Especially when someone is smaller than him
…Corners, Liverpool 3 – 6 Southampton.
What was Mignolet up to towards the end and why didn’t the ref or lino see the handball!
Liverpool lacking urgency and ideas.
It frustrates me by the day how we cant beat some teams but can others
Life is life, if Utd win, i fear for our champo league spot, however, Arsenal are still a good team, a win for them and we are still in a good place.
Good luck to all teams!
The Liverpool keeper should have been off.
Too many poor decisions costing teams points and places this year.
I don't support Liverpool, but at least Klopp is likeable. Their problem is strength in depth, and a plan B, imo. Sturridge is a liability. Mind you, when the pressure is on, you gotta scores pens.