Premier League
Saturday 1st December 2012
Anfield
Anfield
Liverpool VS Southampton
Seven years. That's a staggering time apart. The last time Liverpool played Southampton in a competitive game it was in the middle of the 2004-05 season and yet I can remember the Saints as if they were yesterday. I suppose that's part of the effect that nostalgia has, for Southampton were one of the teams that stuck out in my formative memories. Mostly that's reserved for their magnificent football badge, which I recall etching on many an occasion and also Matt Le Tissier, who was a magnificent player before he became a Sky Sports rent-a-gob. Either way, it's about time we had a reunion.
In spite of my admiration and childhood affinity toward our opponents today, there can be no mistaking after the last two results that three points is anything other than a necessity here. Any kind of win will do, though the confidence boost that a resounding one given Southampton's newly promoted status would be more than welcome.
This game starts a run of fixtures in which our season will be defined. For so long we've been more than mediocre against the lesser lights of the Premier League and we simply cannot afford to allow this kind of generosity to continue. So far we've done what's been asked of us in disposing of Reading and Wigan at Anfield and as such a good victory today would begin to set the wheels in motion for the idea that at least we're starting to turn that around. Fortunately for us, the Saints have something of a scratchy defence having given away the most goals thus far in the league. It's the kind of game which could certainly help boost the goal tally of some of our more gun shy players and even though we need to do nothing more flashy than get the job done, I would like to hope that someone like Allen, Henderson, Sterling or Enrique could get themselves on the score sheet. Either way, Luis Suarez will be ready - as ever - to sink his teeth into them.
As if by magic, there's a young blond Brazilian we can call upon today. Lucas Leiva has become something of a miracle cure for all our woes in his absence and while it's naive to think everything will suddenly be perfect about our game it cannot be underestimated just how important he is to us. Truth be told, it's far too early for him to really be doing anything of note and I would be surprised to see him in the starting line up today. As much as he is a vital part of this team, Lucas needs to be eased into things. After two serious injuries, the last thing we need now is to overwork the lad. Wrap the game up as soon as possible with the other player we have available and give him the last fifteen or so to reintroduce him to the Anfield crowd.
As the work continues to try and turn us around - back into the top four and even beyond - there has to be a fair amount of leeway in regard to results and performance. Our last two away games have heralded decent albeit ultimately flawed performances and because of that there can be no quarter given today. We have been playing well as of late in spite of our flaws and still there has been criticism. That will only get exponentially worse, should we fail today.
Seven years. That's a staggering time apart. The last time Liverpool played Southampton in a competitive game it was in the middle of the 2004-05 season and yet I can remember the Saints as if they were yesterday. I suppose that's part of the effect that nostalgia has, for Southampton were one of the teams that stuck out in my formative memories. Mostly that's reserved for their magnificent football badge, which I recall etching on many an occasion and also Matt Le Tissier, who was a magnificent player before he became a Sky Sports rent-a-gob. Either way, it's about time we had a reunion.
In spite of my admiration and childhood affinity toward our opponents today, there can be no mistaking after the last two results that three points is anything other than a necessity here. Any kind of win will do, though the confidence boost that a resounding one given Southampton's newly promoted status would be more than welcome.
This game starts a run of fixtures in which our season will be defined. For so long we've been more than mediocre against the lesser lights of the Premier League and we simply cannot afford to allow this kind of generosity to continue. So far we've done what's been asked of us in disposing of Reading and Wigan at Anfield and as such a good victory today would begin to set the wheels in motion for the idea that at least we're starting to turn that around. Fortunately for us, the Saints have something of a scratchy defence having given away the most goals thus far in the league. It's the kind of game which could certainly help boost the goal tally of some of our more gun shy players and even though we need to do nothing more flashy than get the job done, I would like to hope that someone like Allen, Henderson, Sterling or Enrique could get themselves on the score sheet. Either way, Luis Suarez will be ready - as ever - to sink his teeth into them.
As if by magic, there's a young blond Brazilian we can call upon today. Lucas Leiva has become something of a miracle cure for all our woes in his absence and while it's naive to think everything will suddenly be perfect about our game it cannot be underestimated just how important he is to us. Truth be told, it's far too early for him to really be doing anything of note and I would be surprised to see him in the starting line up today. As much as he is a vital part of this team, Lucas needs to be eased into things. After two serious injuries, the last thing we need now is to overwork the lad. Wrap the game up as soon as possible with the other player we have available and give him the last fifteen or so to reintroduce him to the Anfield crowd.
As the work continues to try and turn us around - back into the top four and even beyond - there has to be a fair amount of leeway in regard to results and performance. Our last two away games have heralded decent albeit ultimately flawed performances and because of that there can be no quarter given today. We have been playing well as of late in spite of our flaws and still there has been criticism. That will only get exponentially worse, should we fail today.
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