This is the Ings that Liverpool never saw

FOR A few short seconds after the ball had looped gently over Alisson and inside his far post, Danny Ings kept up the charade. The Southampton striker held a straight face, his arms outstretched only momentarily. All in an unnecessary nod of deference to his former employers. Then, as team-mates began the pile on, Ings let the mask slip and a beaming smile appeared across his face. Even Liverpool supporters will surely forgive the celebration — with every goal, Ings exorcises another demon from that miserable spell on Merseyside, when his appearances (25) were dwarfed by games missed through injury (85). Last night’s strike, which took him to 50 in the top flight and set Saints on course for victory, was particularly special. After only 106 seconds, James Ward-Prowse clipped a crafty free-kick behind the Liverpool back four. Trent AlexanderArnold failed to deal with it. The rest was all Ings. The striker let the ball run across his body and then, without so much as a glance towards goal, lifted it over Alisson with his left foot. All the pre-match chatter concerned what a test he would give Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, the 41st and most makeshift centre back partnership of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure. Instead it was one of their seasoned defenders who opened the door. It is to Ings’ credit that he needed no second invitation: the mischievous movement and pinpoint finish painted a perfect picture of a striker reborn. Ings has now amassed seven goals and three assists in 12 Premier League starts this season. Since leaving Liverpool in 2018 his numbers read: 81 games, 40 goals and nine assists. How this move to Southampton has breathed new life into his career. And how Liverpool could have done with his guile as they huffed and puffed during the second half. Ings has been lead star of their recent resurgence. In the empty stadiums of a pandemic Premier League, his is among the voices that echo loudest. Even after netting his second career goal against Liverpool, Ings remained a menace. He snuck in front of Henderson to glance a header towards Nathan Tella, who fired just wide. He continued to exploit spaces behind Liverpool. Before last night, neither Ings nor Hasenhuttl had picked up a point against Liverpool. What a way to break that duck.