KLOPP: WE ARE LUCKY TO STILL BE IN IT
But Karius heroics keep Reds in the hunt
JURGEN KLOPP admitted Liverpool are lucky to still be in with a chance of reaching Wembley after they escaped with a 1-0 defeat at Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg. After Nathan Redmond scored the winner, Klopp said: ‘The performance wasn’t good. But we will strike back.’
BACK in the team, back on the south coast, back in the headlines. Some things don’t change for Loris Karius but this time there was no need for Jurgen Klopp to wince or prickle.
Karius melted under pressure the last time he was on the south coast, at Bournemouth in December, but this time, just when his manager needed him, the German goalkeeper came up trumps. Without him, Klopp conceded, Southampton would be halfway to Wembley.
His performance, though, tells only one half of the story. If Karius is feeling content today, there is no doubt Nathan Redmond, the scorer of the first leg’s only goal, will be dwelling on what might have been.
As it is, Southampton will have a one-goal advantage to defend on January 25. Claude Puel, in normal circumstances, would have been overjoyed by beating Liverpool l but the downcast manner in which he spoke afterwards said everything. The visitors had been let off the hook.
Puel is not a demonstrative or emotional manager and his cautious manner is reflected in his team. They are safe and sensible, difficult to break down but not a side to get the masses leaping from their seats.
It showed in the opening 20 minutes. Puel spoke in his programme notes of wanting St Mary’s to bounce with a ‘special atmosphere’ but for a semi-final, the lack of noise was bewildering. The fans sat like statues, watching and waiting, fearing the worst.
You could understand why. Since they went to the Emirates Stadium on November 30 and dumped Arsenal out of the e quarter-finals, Southampton’ss form has tailed off horribly, withh only two wins in the last nine e matches and no victories in the e last four. Hence the hush.
Liverpool played in a luminouss yellow kit but their football was as far easier on the eye. Adam Lallana and Emre Can clipped balls nonchalantly forward at will, allowing Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino to pressure the defence.
They should have taken the lead in the 18th minute. Can had time and space to loft a ball into the area, Adam Lallana headed down to Roberto Firmino but the Brazil- ian’s powerful shot was too close to Fraser Forster, who beat it away.
And in that moment, the mood changed. The statues in the stand sprang to life, those in red and white on the pitch began to realise what was at stake and the next 120 seconds completely altered the shape of the game.
Ryan Bertrand scuttled forward and fed Dusan Tadic, giving the Serb a chance to cross as he surged into the area. He picked out Redmond but Karius was equal to it.
The danger, however, had not gone. Karius cleared but his midfield squandered possession, Tadic passed the ball to Jay Rodriguez and with Ragnar Klavan getting his feet in a tangle, the striker ushered in Redmond, nutmegging Dejan Lovren in the process. This time there was no mistake as he confidently swept the ball past Karius.
As St Mary’s erupted, Klopp jammed his arms together. There was a rueful smile and a telling shake of the head. He did not need to be told it was a poor goal. Nor did Klavan, who stood head bowed with hands on hips. Southampton should have pressed home their ascendancy. Lovren began to wobble, a complete contrast to the outstanding Virgil van Dijk, who was commanding at the heart of the Saints’ defence.
One can only wonder how much Southampton will regret spurning a chance to double their lead when Redmond found himself in a glorious position after Bertrand wriggled past Can and Lucas Leiva to feed Tadic. Again the cross was precise, again Redmond’s connection was firm but Karius darted off his line all arms and legs like a modern day Peter Schmeichel, spreading himself to repel the danger.
The let-off was huge but the scare failed to shake Liverpool out of their stupor — nor did chance to gather their thoughts at the break. They were first out of the tunnel but second out of the blocks, the difference in approach illustrated by the way Van Dijk continually swatted the ineffective Sturridge aside.
Aware that Liverpool were in danger of missing a trip to Wembley, Klopp had no choice but to make a change. Off came Gini Wijnaldum, on came Coutinho and, belatedly, they started to move the ball again.
Klopp even switched formations, sending a note to Sturridge to pass around the team, but it made no difference. The game finished with Redmond missing another chance when he hit the bar from a tight angle, with Lovren desperately clearing the danger. How costly will that miss prove?
‘ It will be totally different at Anfield,’ Klopp promised.
It needs to be.