Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FORSTER OF NATURE
Big Fraser’s penalty save lit up a sloppy match as Klopp blames a dry pitch and the wind for Liverpool’s failure to fire
JURGEN KLOPP turned to a new page in the excuses-formanagers textbook to explain another two dropped points in the the race for the Champions League. After Liverpool struggled to create a meaningful chance against Southampton — who have now shut them out four times this season – Klopp claimed his players struggled to click into gear because the Anfield pitch was too dry. “I know people don’t want to hear this but the pitch was really dry,” he said. “We gave it all the water we had but, because of the wind, it was really dry. “It was nobody’s fault, but it made it difficult to play.” As excuses go, it was a lulu — and will surely leave the German, an animated figure on the touchline, open to criticism. The Reds, gritty in a 1-0 win at Watford six days earlier, looked curiously lifeless. This was a game they had to to keep Champions League qualification in their own hands yet their performance almost had an end-of-season feel to it. Their fortunes were perhaps summed up by the fact it took Fraser Forster’s first-ever Premier League penalty save to deny them — from James Milner’s first penalty miss since November 2009. Maybe the fates had decided it simply wasn’t a good enough display from the Reds to deserve victory. Not that Klopp’s team were helped by the antics of Forster and his team-mates after the spot kick was awarded on 65 minutes when Lucas, perhaps in desperation, chipped a ball forward, just as he did at Watford on Monday night for Emre Can’s spectacular winner. Jack Stephens instinctively thrust out an arm as the ball dropped beyond him and a penalty was rightly given. Forster tried to swing the balwin ance in his favour when he roughed up the spot as he towered above Milner, whispering in his ear (below). The pressure was on Milner but, even though he struck the ball firmly enough, Forster produced a fine save which Klopp (below) felt was unfairly gained. “I really don’t like to make a story of it but you saw what they did,” he said. “On the one hand they will say it was very smart because he
missed, but on the other hand you say it’s not sportsmanship.“Cedric Soares and James Ward-prowse were both booked and Klopp added: “The two yellow cards for them added to the delay, “And I don’t know how long Forster needed for his goalkicks, but whatever I say we will look like bad losers.” Southampton’s time-wasting was an issue the referee should have dealt with better, but most wasteful of all was Liverpool’s approach, which simply wasn’t engaged enough. They were playing against a Saints side desperately low on form and confidence and yet it took them 13 minutes to even have a touch in the opposition penalty area, never mind fashion a chance. In fact, it took them 34 minutes to create anything of note, Roberto Firmino finally escaping Saints shackles to spin and hit a shot from a promising position. Alas, just like every other Liverpool shot on a depressing afternoon, it was straight at Forster. Only when Klopp — far too late — threw on subs Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge did the game come alive, and twice Sturridge went agonisingly close. Had he been on a little longer he could even have won it for Liverpool. The fact is, though, Liverpool have taken two points from their last three home games against Bournemouth, Palace and Saints. No matter how dry the pitch is, that is not Champions League standard, and they can have no complaint if they finish outside the top four.