LFC Forever 2019/ 20

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

That was stressful. A fan managed to tackle Adrian after the Super Cup, hurting his ankle and leaving us with a potential to debut our oldest debut. Adrian said he was fine but I wouldn't believe him until the team sheet came out. I convinced myself that I'd boasted so much about how good Alisson is that we're getting punished for it. Alisson, please hurry back.

I wished we still had Mignolet again because at least I know what he is or isn't going to do. I still don't know Adrian. He did well to allay my fears in the first half, not so much in the second half.

After Istanbul, we had every excuse to let this one pass us by and the first half really showed that. Other than Norwich, we've not been good in the first half lately.

Over in the Midlands, Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson put Bournemouth 2-0 up at Aston Villa.

Milner and Ward-Prowse clashed heads, leaving Milner bleeding, needing stitches and a massive bandage so Liverpool had to play with 10 men for a while as if they weren't struggling enough.

A corner was whipped in and it was a powerful header from little more than five yards out by Yoshida but Adrian gets a strong hand to it and Liverpool clear.

Liverpool have to scramble to get the ball clear. Liverpool are consistently making the wrong decisions when in possession. Liverpool resorted to hitting the long ball up to Salah but that wasn't working. nceThey definitely don't seem like a team who's champions of Europe or near league title winners.

Dad pointed out that Mane hadn't been involved much, I agreed. Southampton prevented a corner for a throw in. This had to be the chance taken better than the corners before half time. Mane gets the ball, cuts in from the left, shift the ball and fires it right footed into the left corner and beyond Angus Gunn. Screamer.

Once again what's fair to how the game has played doesn't match reality. Southampton couldn't take their chances while Liverpool managed to get through the pressure while looking panicked and burst into what their good at to score.

Liverpool started the second half with a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the Southampton box after Matip was fouled. The defender collected a ball and went driving forward before being tackled by Romeu. It ended with two corners and a goal kick.

Ings came on for Romeu. I warned him not to score against us.

Liverpool got well on top in this second half. The passing has been crisper, they have put Southampton on the back foot a lot more and Roberto Firmino almost finished off fantastic team move there but the ball just whistled wide.

After a lot of passing and dominance came to an end Liverpool got their chance Mane robbed a Southampton player, fed it to Firmino who went from left to right past two and shot into bottom corner.

Milner off for Fabinho. I didn't think he would come on after cramping up in Istanbul.

Origi came on for Salah. It's the first time Salah's had such a quiet one against Southampton.

Adrian with a great save from Matip. Matip was on the edge of causing trouble today and he almost put the ball in his own net, luckily Adrian had it covered.

And then came the absolute howler from Adrian who hits it against Ings for him to score. It was weird, after Milner's head injury I thought about Karius. Apparently it's not only those with concussion who could do something so stupid. I said that's the end of us Ings as if we're friends, we're definitely not now. Ex-Liverpool players literally can't help themselves, can they?

He followed that up by missing a sitter.

That resulted in a really stressful last ten minutes. Southampton sensed something and pushed hard for an equaliser but they couldn't find it. 

Oxlade-Chamberlain goes off for Henderson to sure things up.

Those extra four minutes were not wanted but Liverpool made it to full time with all three points.

Liverpool have equalled their club record run of 11 straight Premier League victories! Klopp also became fastest to 300 league points (with 3 points for a win) as a Liverpool manager in 146 games.

I already can't say Liverpool top of the league cos City and bloody Spurs. Wait, no oh my god, VAR's saved Spurs again and Liverpool do finish the weekend top of the League. Who loves VAR? Liverpool top of the League, Liverpool, Liverpool top of the League! The smirk on my face right now, this is football.

Next up Arsenal at home Saturday 24th August 2019, 17:30.

Maybe this will be the one where we see the real Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back.