Monday 8 May 2017 14:17, UK
Liverpool's top-four hopes were dented as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton at Anfield. Here are five talking points from a frustrating afternoon for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Liverpool's top-four fate was in their own hands after Monday's 1-0 win over Watford, but this frustrating stalemate leaves them at the mercy of other results once again. Following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth and the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, the Reds have hit their poorest home run of the season at the worst possible time.
Victories over West Ham and Middlesbrough in their remaining fixtures would take them to 76 points, but Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal all have games in hand. And given Liverpool's patchy form against teams in the bottom half of the table, taking maximum points is unlikely to be straight forward.
James Milner had netted seven penalties out of seven before Sunday's game, so when referee Robert Madley penalised Jack Stephens midway through the second half at Anfield, it was no surprise to see some Liverpool players celebrate as if the goal had already been scored.
But after some mind games from Fraser Forster, Milner's low effort was brilliantly saved by the towering Southampton goalkeeper. It was Milner's first Premier League penalty miss since 2009. To underline Liverpool's misfortune, it was the first time Forster has saved a spot kick in the top flight.
"He's a top keeper and he's seen me take a lot of penalties when we've been with England and even when we were at Newcastle together," Milner told Sky Sports. "It's a good save but you've got to take those chances. I've got to take responsibility for that."
Liverpool struggled to create clear chances in the first half and continued to labour at the start of the second, but Klopp still waited until the 69th minute before introducing Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge for Lucas Leiva and Divock Origi.
The substitutes added some much-needed urgency to Liverpool's build-up play and combined cleverly for Sturridge to toe-poke an effort at Forster on one occasion, but with little time to make a meaningful impression, supporters were left to wonder why their manager had waited so long to make the changes.
"I would have moved earlier," said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness afterwards. "Liverpool did not look threatening in the early part of the tame. I'd have got them on just after half-time." In the end, Klopp's team selection left him with questions to answer.
Two days after winning a Player of the Year double at Southampton's end-of-season awards night, Oriol Romeu provided another example of his importance to Claude Puel's side. In a game where Saints were set up to soak up pressure, the Spaniard's performance in defensive midfield was vital to leaving Anfield with a point.
Romeu made more tackles (four) and more interceptions (six) than any of his team-mates. He provided a formidable shield in front of Southampton's back four, with his physicality and aggression making life difficult for Liverpool's attackers. "Now I know why Graeme Souness is such a big fan," noted Jamie Carragher after one uncompromising challenge on Origi in the first half.
It is a familiar theme for Liverpool this season, but this was another game in which they desperately missed Sadio Mane. Without their injured top scorer, Klopp's men lacked the pace and unpredictability to break Southampton down.
The absence of penetration was noted by Carragher in the Sky Sports commentary box. "Emre Can just took eight touches then Lucas Leiva took eight touches," he said after another limp Liverpool attack. "It needs to be quicker, it needs to be sharper. One-touch, two-touch football."
Liverpool's win percentage stands at 68 per cent when Mane is in the starting line-up. Without him, it drops below 40 per cent. Whether or not they finish the season in the Champions League, their dependency on Mane is an issue in need of attention.
