LIVERPOOL AT ST MARYS

Are we doomed to lose this or can we get a result a la Man City?

Hope training has included work on clinical finishing as we really need to score from a higher percentage of our chances.

Clyne to come back? Will we see Forren?

Think it's going to be difficult, predict a 0-2 loss but hope I'm wrong.

SAINTS: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, Lallana, Ramírez, Rodriguez, Lambert.

Subs: K Davis, Fonte, Forren, S Davis, Ward-Prowse, Puncheon, Guly.


LIVERPOOL: Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Allen, Gerrard, Downing, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suárez.

Subs: Gulacsi, Wisdom, Henderson, Shelvey, Lucas, Suso, Ibe.


Hooiveld before Fonte and Forren....

Great result, great performance and for once the best team won!

Saints started a bit iffy for the first couple of minutes, luke shaw making a couple of errors and some indecision at the back. Was an open game though and saints started to create chances, Ramerez managed to get a shot away that their goalie just got down at the far post to save, if Ramerz had hit with more power would have been in. But saints did take the lead after just 5 minutes. Ramerez got down the right side, hit a deep cross to the back post, Rodrigues headed back across goal and Schneiderlin in the box just flicked the ball with outside of his foot into the right hand side of the net.

That sparked saints and ramerez blasted over the bar from left side then Lambert was in 1 on 1 but seemed to hesitate thinking he was offside and hit a weak shot against the goalies legs. Ramerez had a shot that Jones took reasonably comfortably. Although saints were playing well Liverpool looked dangerous on the break not helped by saints players slipping at critical points. Following a slip from Hoovield which nearly let liverpool in, stopped by a great interception from Yoshida, Hoovield went off injured with Fonte coming on, good that at least we have some decent defender at CH on the bench.

Saints got the second they deserved following a foul by Skirtel on lambert, one of the few he got, free kick about 30 yards out left of centre. ramerez was near the ball but was only ever going to be Rickie. His shot went into the wall but was deflected and went inside the post with their goalie unable to reach, plenty of power from 30 yards. Could have been 3 five minutes later when lallana got down the left side cut in and ball was just behind Rodrigues who volleyed but went over, slightly panicked and if he had waited for ball to drop a little more would have scored. Boruc then had to make a good stop and just when you think we would go in 2 up when could easily have been 4 we gave away another soft goal. Shaw got beaten but rodrigues was back and had chance to clear but weak clearance went straight to liverpool player who crossed to far post, initial shot blocked richocet around the area and second shot turned in by Coutinho in injury time

Second half saw liverpool pressing more and saints midfield unable to get a grip. Ramerez who had a decent first half seemed to be engaged in arguing a lot and after a 1 minute rant with Dowd was replaced by Davis and from that point saints started to get back more into the game. A ball over the top to Suarez caused problems but ball just bounced kindly for Boruc to gather. A few more crosses and shots that Boruc had to deal with and his handling in difficult conditions was excellent. Suarez conned a free kick and shot from 30 yards that bounced in front of boruc but safely held. Dowd who had had a decent game then had a 15 minute period where he seemed to want Liverpool to score giving them numerous free kick as they dived for everything, Coutinho and Suarez in particular.

Saints nearly got the third with a cross that Johnson, who had a poor game, sliced his clearance and could so easily have gone in. Lallana then managed to twist his way free to left of goal but his shot/pull back had no power and was cleared by skirtel. That third oh so important goal came as Rodrigeus picked the ball up 30 yards out went on a run and must have realised a chance was on cut inside with 2 players on him but got his shot away which Jones parried but for once fell right and straight into J Rods path and he fired in the rebound.

Saints then looked reasonably comfortable, a few danagerous crosses and a shot from Enrigue ended up in the side netting. 3 minutes extra time and when Boruc went to clear suarez would not let him make the clearance and got booked, then argued with ref so wasted 1 of the 3 minutes. classic petulance!!

Bouruc 9 great handling in tough conditions and such a presence now.
Cline 8 had a really good game after a few average performances
Yoshida 8 again some good blocks but solid at the back
Hoovield 7 was having a good game before he was injured.
Shaw 8 iffy start but grew in confidence and some great bursts second half, just needs to have a couple of shots
Lallana 7 some good play going forward but was quite easily knocked of the ball
Cork 9 never stopped running was involved in everything
Schneiderlin 8 another great game with a goal
Ramerz 6 like lallana good going forward and decent cross for first goal was knocked off the ball easily and bullied out by Enrique
Rodrigues 8 made one, scored one, missed one and was at fault for one. Still looking a good prospect for the future
Lambert 8 had a great battle with skirtel all game and his ability to hold the ball and lay off is so key plus he got his goal

Subs
Fonte 7 looked good and solid
Davis 8 although only on for 30 minutes key impact gained us back control of the middle and we looked more solid when he was on
Guly 5 on for last 10 minues but didnt seem up for it, hardly touched the ball and some very weak challenges allowed liverpool some hope.

So great result and so much like Man city game, 2 up then concede soft goal in first half injury time then get a third goal and a comfortable win. Some interesting issues for Poch, Lallana and ramerez may be creative but they tend to wander, Davis in the middle allowed Schneiderlin and Cork to flourish. Shame we have a break now as never seems to work in our favour! Said 4 points from chelsea and liverpool so on course. I also think 8 from Liverpool/Chelsea/reading and W ham would see us probably safe, just need to play like this and not like against QPR! Difference was game was played at much greater pace to day which was partly due to Liverpools style and gives us the spaces. Also apart form a 15 minute period when he seemd to lose it Dowd who I think is a poor ref actually had adecent game getting most decisions right. Also think Suarez should take a leaf out of skirtel. he had a great battle with lambert and even at half time when going off he shook Rickies hand, true professionals who battled away and just got on with it.

Thanks Matty, another great report. Watched highlights on Sky and they reckoned Lallana was man of the match although I didn't quite see it that way myself. Mind you, difficult to name a star player as a good all-round team effort. If forced, I might have said Boruc, as without some good saves the result could have been very different.

Another interesting day tomorrow with games involving Sunderland, Norwich, West Ham, Wigan and Newcastle.

Yeah I am Lallana was man of the match as some good touches but doesnt finish, Rodrigues was more of a threat and worked hard and Cork and Schneiderlin put in their usual high work rate.

As you say Boruc also made a very solid contribution. Loved the booking for suarez as could not see from where we were the smile Boruc gave Suarez to wind him up, the guy is a nut case but fast becoming a hero! Sign him up now for next season.

Hopefully draw for Sunderland and Norwich, newcastle beat Wigan and defeat for west spam, then will have been a great weekend!

It would have been a good day if Wigan hadn't got a last-gasp winner against Newcastle.

Wigan only got the win by strong arm tactics and not convinced they will have the same amoun to fo luck rest of the season, but a draw would have been nice. I think we will finish on 41 points which should be enough and think that will put us above Villa and sunderland.