SOUTHAMPTON LIVERPOOL DODGY AD COULD Liverpool escape as Super Cup hero drops a clanger
■ Liverpool have now won 11 consecutive Premier League matches, equalling their best-ever winning streak in the competition (February to April 2014) JURGEN KLOPP refused to condemn goalkeeper Adrian after his blunder threatened to deny Liverpool a club record 11th Premier League win in a row.
The European champions were cruising to victory on the south coast thanks to Sadio Mane’s first-half wonder strike and Roberto Firmino’s fleetfooted finish.
But Adrian’s howler to gift Danny Ings his first goal since December set up a nervy finish.
Virgil van Dijk played a routine back- pass to Adrian and the ■ Southampton have now lost each of their last five league games against Liverpool by an aggregate score of 13-2. ■ Liverpool have won their first two Spaniard inexplicably punted the ball straight at the unsuspecting Ings before it cannoned into an empty net.
The mistake capped an errorstrewn display from Adrian (right), who had to pass a late fitness test after being floored by an over-exuberant fan following his European Super Cup heroics.
It would have proved even more costly but for former Liverpool striker Ings missing a late sitter.
With Adrian set to keep goal for the foreseeable future with No.1 Allison nursing a calf injury, Reds fans have every right to be concerned.
But a smiling Klopp said: “Now Adrian has arrived at Liverpool because Allison did the same in game three or four last season.
“You make such a mistake once and tick the box. After that it is done and you don’t think about it. Apart from that he played outstanding.
“We deserved the three points today because over 83 minutes we were the better team and that’s it. We scored two nice goals and defended solidly so I am pleased.”
Liverpool only flew back from Istanbul on Thursday following their penalty shootout win over Chelsea and Klopp’s men looked leg-weary in the first half. Maya Yoshida and home debutant Che