RESULT! 100% FOOTBALL ACTION, GOALS & STATS
SOUTHAMPTON boss Claude Puel last night heaped praise on his star striker Manolo Gabbiadini after yet another magical performance.
After scoring twice in last weekend’s EFL Cup Final loss to Man United – and having another wrongly ruled out for offside – Saints’ £14.6million January signing was back among the goals.
And it was a good job he was in a topsy-turvy encounter at Vicarage Road, which the visitors eventually won 4-3.
Frenchman Puel reserved special praise for Gabbiadini. He said: “I am pleased with how we came back at Wembley and how we did the same from a goal down here.
“We showed lots of character. It was a difficult game against a team that play the long ball.
“It was nice for Gabbiadini to score again and he is proving a great asset. Now we do not play for two weeks we will work on him again to be even better.
“The record books show he has six goals for us but I say seven because of his disallowed goal at Wembley.
“I expected him to have this kind of impact because he is a difficult player to play against. He offers us so much.
“I expected him to do well but his goals coming so quickly have surprised me. It was also a good day for Nathan Redmond, who I think is ready for international football.” LIVERPOOL last night ended Arsenal’s bid for the Premier League title with a stunning display at Anfield.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has come in for criticism since the turn of the year after some indifferent performances from his side but he was delighted with their effort and said: “It was one of the best games we have played so far because of the strength and the line-up of our opponent.
“We did really well. We had hard words after the defeat at Leicester. We analysed it and that wasn’t enjoyable.
“We had another opportunity and we took it today. It’s the rollercoaster of the Premier League. It’s not always going up.
“We all know what we did last week and how we played. It’s not usual to come back like this. We know what we need to work on.”
And after going third in the table Klopp’s side are now bang in the race for the Champions League places and could be coming good at the right time.
Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane gave the hosts a two-nil lead before Danny Welbeck pulled one back for the Gunners.
Georginio Wijnaldum then netted late on after a flowing move.
Afterwards, Arsenal keeper Petr Cech conceded the title is now out of reach.
He said: “With three points we would have been in the chase for the title but now we’re too far away.
“We need to ensure that we finish as high as possible and at least finish in the top four.” Leicester 3 Liverpool 3 Man United Stoke 2 Swansea 3 Watford 3 West Brom Hull Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 1 Middlesbro Burnley Southampton 4 0 C Palace