IT’S DAN-TASTIC FOR KLOPP
Sturridge returns to start the party before Origi hits hat-trick for swaggering Liverpool
THERE are times when teams play with such confidence, such swagger, that they appear to be capable of anything. Liverpool are back.
Divock Origi scored a hat-trick, his first goals for the club, on a night when every time a Liverpool player touched the ball inside the penalty area it seemed to end up in the back of Maarten Stekelenburg’s net.
Daniel Sturridge, making his first start since the Merseyside derby on October 4, scored twice and substitute Jordon Ibe endeared himself to the travelling fans with a belter. It was easy to be transfixed.
With the exception of ‘that **** result against Crystal Palace’, Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp has transformed this club in the space of 47 remarkable days.
They will play Stoke City over two legs in the Capital One Cup semifinal, they have booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League after beating Bordeaux and they are four points off fourth in the Barclays Premier League. What could possibly go wrong?
The next stop for Klopp on this magical mystery tour is St James’ Park on Sunday and Newcastle manager Steve McClaren must, quite frankly, be terrified.
Southampton were pulverised, put in their place by a team who suddenly have a ruthless streak, an edge about them that suggests they will be hard to beat from here.
Ronald Koeman will be traumatised by this experience because his Southampton team had been given a goal start when Sadio Mane put them in front after just 41 seconds.
The beauty of this Liverpool team, as they become more and more accustomed to the habits of their German coach, is that there is never a hint of panic. His team responded, emphatically as it happens, with a commanding and compelling display. Obviously he was not best pleased when his left back Alberto Moreno was outmuscled and outjumped by Mane at the far post as he rose to meet Ryan Bertrand’s cross in the opening minute.
Klopp had made six changes to the team that had beaten Swansea City on Sunday, shuffling the pack because of the club’s heavy fixture schedule. Starting with Sturridge had been a big surprise. The Liverpool forward scored twice, changing the course of the game with two brilliant finishes in front of England’s head coach Roy Hodgson. Sturridge was a joy to watch, he really was.
He equalised, after taking a heavy touch, in the 24th minute, but there was more than enough about him to wriggle free of the dreadful Steven Caulker and beat Stekelenburg with a fine finish.
His next was another classy effort, reading the raking pass of Emre Can to steer his cushioned side-foot volley, this time with his right foot, beyond the Southampton goalkeeper.
‘It was a good decision, as was the one to start Divock,’ joked Klopp. ‘Maybe Sturridge can be even better than two years ago — why don’t you write that?’ Fair enough because, remarkably, the forward has now scored more goals in domestic competition this season than Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney. Ouch.
This was Liverpool’s night, giving the impression that they could score at will when Moreno’s drilled effort from the outside of the area was deflected beyond Stekelenburg by Origi’s clever intervention.
Koeman took complete responsibility for what happened next, playing three at the back in an attempt to swing this quarter-final tie in their favour. It was never going to happen.
Adam Lallana’s performance here will be largely forgotten because of the impact of Sturridge and Origi, but he pretty much ran the game from his position just off the front two. This was the Lallana of old, the one that Southampton supporters had adored when they used to sing that ditty about him being better than Lionel Messi. Lallana had a ball out there.
By the time Sturridge was substituted, to a standing ovation from Liverpool’s travelling fans, and replaced with Ibe after 59 minutes, they were ready for more.
Ibe’s impact was instant, setting Origi free to score his second after a twisting run, a neat feint and lovely switch in to the feet of the Liverpool forward.
Ibe got one of his own, scoring Liverpool’s fifth when he arrived on the edge of the penalty box when Moreno’s clipped pass across the area fell into his path.
There was just time for one more, Origi completing his hat-trick after he met substitute Brad Smith’s cross from the left to head beyond the hapless figure of Stekelenburg.
There is an aura about this Liverpool team again, a menacing air about them as they chase honours at home and in Europe.
With Klopp in control, they are certainly on to something special.