Southampton vs Liverpool: Post-match reaction (EPL gameweek 2)

SOUTHAMPTON vs LIVERPOOL (1 - 2)

It was always going to be a tough task heading to Southampton after a grueling 120+ minutes in Istanbul, it was just a matter of playing smart, not hard.

The first half an hour I thought Southampton were the better team. Better passing, movement and some great corners being whipped in causing a bit of panic in the voices of the travelling Kop.

I don't know what's happened with Matip, but the form he showed in the second half of last season seems to have done a runner. A few miss-placed passed here, losing a runner there...it left me sighing deeply...

He wasn't the only one though. Trent seemed a bit lightweight to me at times, also letting a few passes go astray here and there and being second best in a challenge more times than not. Saying that, both popped up with some dangerous forward passes so it's not all bad.

Adrian popped up again with some vital stops in the first half. One on 8 minutes when Adams slipped in between our center backs trying to get a little toe poke beyond our Super Cup hero. Adrian stayed big and got a hand to the ball. Then on 20 minutes a dangerous corner was whipped in which Yoshida headed strongly, luckily for us it was straight at Adrian but the Spaniard reacted well to flap it out of the danger zone.

Notable positives for me in the first half were Bobby's audition for the next Karate Mid movie with some acrobatic kicks to retain possession on multiple occasions, I freakin' LOVE that effort! Then of course Mané smashing one in the top corner from the edge of the box, taking us in with a valuable lead at half time.

That late goal in the first half, along with whatever Kloppo shouted at the boys saw the tables turned early in the second half. Everything was better from the reds. Passing, movement, pressing, and tackling.

Just as I was typing about being gutted about Bobby not tucking his chance away on 65 mins, he goes and slots one in from the edge of the box on 70 minutes after a bit of a fail from Southampton to give possession away to Mané in a dangerous left side position. 0 v 2 to the reds 👍

I don't want to talk about what happened on 83 minutes, so will sum it up with this:

AAADDRRRIIIIIIAAAAAAAAANNN

It was a bit 'squeaky bum' time over the last 10 minutes, but Liverpool get the win. A tough fixture out of the way. Noice!

PLAYER RATINGS...

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS...

Chamberlain at CM? Game over for Southampton. pic.twitter.com/9Dym5aziMb

— ‘ (@VintageFirmino) August 17, 2019

Sadio Mane’s stoppage time goal and whatever Jurgen Klopp told the team during halftime has sparked Liverpool to life here. #SOULIV

— ‘The’ Martin the Mercenary (@cloneposter) August 17, 2019

Nobody

Absolutely no one at all

Bobby firmino after scoring pic.twitter.com/FWo7x7wY8D

— unbearable stephen harris (@stephen_6times) August 17, 2019

Adrian (albeit made a silly error) but did keep us in it at times – the point blank save and preventing a Matip own goal.

— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) August 17, 2019

COMING UP...

We now have a whole week to wait until football is back at Anfield, where it freakin' belongs! Arsenal are the visitors. I think it will be closer than last season's result, but ultimately 3 points for the reds in a 3 v 1 victory.

YNWA

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Liverpool vs Chelsea: Post-match reaction (UEFA Super Cup final)

Liverpool vs Chelsea (2 - 2 LFC win on penalties)

A trip back to Istanbul, hey?!

The starting XI Kloppo went for surprised me a little. I'm a big fan of the Ox, but not a fan when he's out on the left. Driving through the middle is where he needs to be in my opinion. However, I trust Kloppo more than myself...

The first 45 wasn't fantastic from a Liverpool perspective, let's be honest. We looked a wee bit 'unsettled' at the back, and seemed to have this inability to mop up second balls. There were a few moments of note though.

Mané seemed to have broke VAR 5 minutes in. His overhead kick which was clearly screaming in the top corner was blocked by Christensen, the swine! Hendo was getting about fairly well for the first 25 minutes or so, making a few runs in behind to whip in crosses.

Did you see that pass from Ox to put Salah through on goal?...

Matip had a few tasty "you shall not paaaass" moments...but then equally put us in the poop with some sloppy balls and getting caught out of position a few times, so I have mixed feelings there. A bit of a shake up was needed, and we got it at half time with fun Bobby coming on for....nooooo 😖 Still, when he immediately sets up Mané for an equalizer, I can almost get over it.

We saw flashes of the danger our front 3 can cause early in the second half, and a bit of chaos in the Chelsea box when big Virg had his half chance saved at close range, but then the game kind of just passed by with neither team really threatening until the last 10 minutes.

These late offside flags are going to give me a hernia one day, but naturally I was chuffed to see Chelsea's second get ruled out. Chelsea cranked up the pressure after that, which Liverpool soaked up well. Just...

The magnificent Mané bagged his second during extra time (if that's what we still call it) after some well worked build up play and cut back from Bobby. Then the focus switched to Adrian. Was it a pen? I thought not but the replays weren't conclusive from their naff angles. 2-2 it went and we eeked through the remaining minutes with not too much of note apart from tired legs and a decent save from Adrian to make amends a bit with those who blame him for Chelsea's pen.

Talking of pens, how bea-uti-FUL were they?! Well practiced and precise, all of them! Adrian saves the day and we can all feck off to bed happy.

It was never in doubt on our return to Istanbul!

Player ratings...

Before you read on, let me be upfront and say there is no scientific or mathematical approach to these ratings...

...they're simply my opinion. Feel free to rinse me on Twitter @marvipan if you want to disagree 😇

Social Media Reactions...

Kloppo's final record being brought up again 😑

...about time!

When you cock up the starting 11, get outplayed in the first half, leave Trent & Firmino on the bench, play Ox out wide but still end up as a double European Champion 🏆 🏆

Love this bastard ❤️#LIVCHE #SuperCup pic.twitter.com/vd13m7KY8j

— GoldenBoyTerry (@IlPhenomeno_) August 14, 2019

Coming up...

Southampton in just a few days time. Will we have the legs for it?! Damn freakin' right we will! This time it will be 0-3 to the travelling redmen!

YNWA

Liverpool vs Norwich: Post-match reaction (EPL gameweek 1)

Liverpool vs Norwich City (4 - 1)

My only concern going in to this match was having a barrage of messages from friends back in Norwich rubbing it in if Liverpool dropped points...and I mean really freakin' rub it in. I was 99.9% confident we'd witness nothing but a sizable victory for the reds, but you know how it gets.

No Suarez, no problem!

I predicted a 6 - 0 victory prior to kick off, mainly for the fact I could use the Kloppo GIF we all have in our 'recently used' GIF list: 

30 minutes in and it really looked like my prediction would come to fruition. I thought Divock showed us (again) that he can come in and do a decent job and ultimately score goals in the absence of Mané, Salah or Firmino. We didn't need a 70 million quid back up in the summer. He was driving at players and causing them headaches which ultimately resulted in the first goal. Welcome back to the Premier League, Hanley (sorry). Gotta feel for the lad.

Bobby was my man of the match. He had an ace performance all round which was only missing a goal. I was gutted his chest, turn and volley which Krul saved didn't scream in to the top corner (mainly gutted for me as he's in my dream team). That's a goal that you would see kids practicing over and over again in playgrounds around the world. His deft touch set up Mo's first of the season, and he ran for days lasting almost the full 90. 

VVD's cheeky smile as he turned to celebrate his goal tells you all you need to know about that one. He shouldn't have been able to tuck that away with 3 defenders close, and without needing to lift off the ground! I also liked his anger when we conceded...

Norwich played well to be fair. They stuck to their principles and played attacking football. Good on 'em. Come the end of the season we'll see where it gets them. Against Kloppo's redmen though, no chance. 

The only tarnish on the game in my view is the injury to Alisson, seemingly keeping him out for 3-4 weeks according to various reports. When Alisson went down I think Kloppo had flashbacks to last season when Clyne was granted a loan move, only for TAA to get injured immediately after. You can hear the social media backlash now about allowing Migs to leave without a "proper" back-up 😑

A winning start, 3 points on the board and a good performance to build on.

Player ratings will be introduced in the next post-match blog. We'll close this one with some fan reactions (not necessarily specific to Liverpool's match)...

Social Media reactions...

On Man City scoring 4

Before a ball was even kicked at Anfield

On Adrian's unexpected minutes

Bobby and Mo tonight!!! 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/yHHF5V11Fw

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) August 9, 2019

Coming up...

On we march to Istanbul with a few days head start over Chelsea. Let's stick another piece of silverware in the cabinet! My prediction is 3 - 0 win for Liverpool, and I hope Ox gets some minutes and perhaps a cheeky 25 yard grass-cutting goal!

YNWA