Southampton 3-1 Liverpool: Saints Cruise Past Lethargic Reds

Two teams with very different aspirations produced an interesting encounter at St. Mary's stadium on Saturday afternoon, as Southampton brushed past an unusually laborious Liverpool. Amidst the rain and mud that typified an English spring, it was the likes of Rickie Lambert, becoming the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League, who felt most at home as the Saints secured a vital 3 points and gave their quest for Premier League survival a vital and timely boost. Southampton hustled, fought and harried while Liverpool stalled, struggled and died, the Dr. Jekyll that so courageously defeated Tottenham last weekend giving way to an ugly, lumbering Mr. Hyde. All hopes of top 4 should now be put back where they were at the start of the season, while even a fifth place berth now looks unlikely for Brendan Rodger's side. The Red's inconsistency has indeed become such a monster that fans could hardly be surprised to see it unleashed once again. At every juncture in the campaign that Liverpool have threatened to build the kind of momentum that could see teams swept aside by their stylish, attacking football, they revert to a horrendous mockery of the kind of team this fantastic club has so often produced. A frustrating, painful mess. Brendan Rodgers coined the term "Death By Football" to describe his passing and possession tactics on the field, but Liverpool keep shooting themselves in the foot. The Irishman made two surprise changes to the team that triumphed over spurs; Jamie Carragher was forced to withdraw to be replaced in the starting line-up by Martin Skrtel, who looked a shadow of his former self, while Joe Allen made his way back into the starting line up at the expense of Lucas. The circumstances leading to the Brazilians absence are not clear, nor are the reasons for picking Allen, who, as so often this season, looked totally overwhelmed and out-muscled from the beginning. If Liverpool were poor, Southampton were inspired. A poor Liverpool still take beating, and the Saints did more than enough to earn their 3-1 victory, and in fact could have been 4 or 5 up by half time, such was the ineptitude of Liverpool's defending. Morgan Schneiderlin was the first benefactor of absenteeism from reds defenders, strolling from the halfway line unchecked to cleverly turn in a Jay Rodriguez header after just six minutes. From then on there was only one winner in an almost depressingly one-sided contest. Saints focus and energy was proving too much for Liverpool, who looked clueless and leaderless as they sunk to their ninth defeat of the season. Southampton ransacked the reds midfield of the ball time and time again, hunting in packs as they picked off attacks and developed their own. On the ball, Liverpool were poor. Off it, they were there for the taking. Gaston Ramirez, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana cut their way through with consummate ease, dancing mockingly past the dazed Skrtel and Agger, who were constantly exposed by an anonymous midfield badly missing the energy and physicality of Lucas and Jordan Henderson. Brendan Rodgers will have seen Southampton play under Pochettino. Although this was arguably their best performance under the Argentine, the nature of their play and tactics did not change; Liverpool just hadn't prepared themselves for it. As a team and as individuals, Liverpool were fragile and weak, both mentally and physically. Meanwhile Southampton showed the grit and determination that exemplified a team with something to play for. Lambert beat a wretched offside trap but saw his shot saved by stand-in goalkeeper Brad Jones, while Lallana saw an acrobatic volley from close range sail over. Rickie Lambert doubled Southampton's lead with a free kick that fortuitously deflected in off Daniel Sturridge, who seemed all to eager to avoid being hit by the ball. At 2-0 down, Liverpool started playing. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge linked briefly, and Philippe Coutinho, who's form since signing in January may be the only thing for Liverpool fans to be cheerful about this weekend, popped up in the box to slot home after Daniel Sturridge's shot was saved by impressive Saints keeper Artur Boruc. Liverpool's lethargy extended into the second half however, and although they saw more of the ball, their players seemed unable to make it do what they wanted. Luis Suarez ran tirelessly, but fruitlessly. Glen Johnson looked as if he was trying to play in clown shoes. A comeback never looked feasible, and wouldn't have been deserved, and Southampton sealed their victory with 10 minutes remaining. Rodriguez, running far too easily past Lucas, who took Allen's place at half time, converted a goal his performance deserved after seeing his first effort saved by Jones.