Darwin’s theory of Anfield evolution
LIVERPOOL 3 Firmino (6), Nunez (21, 42) SOUTHAMPTON 1 Adams (9)
Summer signing Darwin Nunez played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s win over Southampton and manager Jurgen Klopp has not ruled out bringing in reinforcements in January to help their bid for Champions League football.
An up-and-down first four months of the season ended on an upward curve as Nunez scored twice after Che Adams had cancelled out Roberto Firmino’s sixth-minute goal, to secure a fourth successive win in all competitions.
The top four is now within touching distance, which is an improvement on a couple of weeks ago when back-to-back defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds raised serious questions about their ability to compete for a place among Europe’s elite.
A five-week break will now provide time for consolidation before thoughts turn to the second half of the campaign and, like last January when they made a snap decision to bring in Luis Diaz, Klopp has not ruled out making signings.
“We are always open to these kind of things, but we don’t have to open this discussion now,” said the German, who has been criticised for not strengthening his midfield options.
“If there is something possible we will doit,butthedoorisopenandweare open as well.
“It is not about wanting. We want to improve the team all the time, we just believe in the training ground we can do it there.”
Klopp had to watch the game from the back row of the Main Stand’s bottom tier as he served a one-match ban for verbally abusing assistant referee Gary Beswick in last month’s win over Manchester City.
From there he saw Nunez continue his improvement as he took his tally to seven goals in 10 appearances as his team won the game in the opening 45 minutes.
“First half was really good and the second half was not, we made a lot of mistakes,” he added.
“First half we did everything they didn’t want us to, second half we became too passive in defending.”
Visiting boss Jones opted for a 4-4-2 formation for his Premier League debut but his side were far too open and they were frequently carved apart.
Even Southampton’s first goal at Anfield since 2015 – after Adams took advantage of Virgil van Dijk switching off to head home a ninth-minute equaliser from James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick – could not paper over the cracks.
Liverpool had taken the lead three minutes earlier when, Duje Caleta-Car
had pulled down Mo Salah on the counter-attack, Firmino deposited a flicked header inside the far post from Andy Robertson’s inswinging free-kick. Nunez warmed himself up with a cross to Salah which saw Gavin Bazunu superbly repel a first-time shot, although the goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Liverpool’s second.
Harvey Elliott played in Nunez on the left of the penalty area and cleverly lifted over a pass which
was volleyed home with aplomb. Another exquisite move breached Southampton in the 42nd minute as Robertson raced onto Thiago’s precise through-ball to cross low for Nunez to divert past Bazunu.
To their credit, the visitors rallied and Alisson Becker was the busier of the two goalkeepers, with Mohamed Elyounoussi, Samuel Edozie and Adams all going close.
For new Saints manager Nathan Jones it was a tough baptism to
life as a Premier League manager. But he insists he did not leave Championship side Luton just to enjoy the top-flight experience. He said: “I don’t just want to be a Premier League manager, I want to make sure I am successful at the level.
“It was a very proud moment and it would have been easy for me not to take the game today. It is one of the toughest places you can start at, but I have learnt a lot.”
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 7 (Phillips 87), Gomez 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 8 (Tsimikas 86); Elliott 7 (Milner 68, 6), Thiago 7, Fabinho 7; Firmino 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75, 6), Salah 6, Nunez 8 (Carvalho 87). Unused subs – Adrian, Bajcetic, Doak, Kelleher
SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 6; Kotchap 6 (Lyanco 73, 6) Caleta-Car 5 (Maitland-Niles 59, 6), Salisu 6, Perraud 7; Lavia 6 (Aribo 82), Ward-Prowse 7; S Armstrong (Walcott 59, 6), Adams 7, Elyounoussi 6; Armstrong 6 (Edozie 59, 6). Unused subs – McCarthy, Mara, Djenepo, Diallo