It is never a good sign when the one positive a manager can find
is sitting in a corporate box. Brendan Rodgers spoke with genuine
relief at the end of Luis Suárez's 10-match suspension but, while the
expiry date was perfectly timed, the topic was merely a diversion
against Southampton. Second-best to Mauricio Pochettino's intelligent side throughout, Liverpool's part in their downfall could not be disguised.
"A bad day at the office," was the Liverpool manager's verdict and in fairness he has not overseen one since losing at Southampton in March. Rodgers had also injected reality into the optimism generated during Liverpool's unbeaten start, accepting his team rose to the top without a convincing 90-minute display.
His programme notes captured perfectly the balance between Liverpool's ingrained ambition and the leap required after four seasons outside the Champions League. The team-sheet he compiled, however, lacked any such finesse. The bad day commenced in his office.
Rodgers' decision to start with four centre-halves dominated the post-match scrutiny on Liverpool, Suárez apart, and the manager was steadfast in his own defence. "It is what we had available," he argued, given injury to Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly's lack of match fitness and a knee problem for José Enrique that did not stop the Spaniard's introduction shortly after Dejan Lovren headed Southampton into a deserved lead.
The selection accommodated all the experienced voices and recent £16m signing Mamadou Sakho in a left-back role he recently stated was not for him. More importantly, and inevitably, it disrupted Liverpool's cohesion, penetration from full-back and distribution. Southampton accepted the initiative gratefully.
"It raised a couple of eyebrows," said Adam Lallana of Liverpool's line-up. "But we concentrated more on our game and forced our game-plan on them well. They are a team that likes to play out from the back, like us, so we played a high-pressing game to win the ball back in areas where we could affect the game. They had to play it long and that's what we wanted them to do. Our back four were brilliant. They were like rocks. We thoroughly deserved to win and had the chances to make it two or three-nil in the second half.
"We've had a tough start to the season. Teams like West Ham and Norwich are not easy teams to play against.
"We felt the way Liverpool played we could maybe capitalise on their style and it would suit us a little bit better. We found we did that, we got the ball back in good areas and created chances."
Victory tasted "sweet" for Lallana, the Everton-supporting Southampton captain, one of a number of vibrant performers in black. Pochettino's team were composed and disciplined from the off, from Artur Boruc in goal, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne demonstrating the value of incisive full-backs, Lovren and José Fonte in the heart of defence and Victor Wanyama in central midfield. They improved to a swagger on the counter-attack after the interval, encouraged by Liverpool's carelessness.
Defensive uncertainty in the home ranks proved contagious. The goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, spread panic throughout Anfield whenever he tried to play his way out of trouble. "I play that style with the national team as well and I am very confident with doing that," he insisted. "It is not a problem." A long, awkward silence followed that answer.
Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Sturridge, all instrumental in the unbeaten opening, all toiled and the winning goal encapsulated the Liverpool display. Kolo Touré and Martin Skrtel conspired to concede a throw-in, then a corner, and Lovren headed Lallana's delivery beyond Mignolet despite the presence of the four centre-halves. "Criminal," said Rodgers. Liverpool finished with a totally different defensive formation and with Daniel Agger's prospects of facing Manchester United in the Capital One Cup reduced after aggravating a rib injury. Rodgers has abundant options in that department but, with Philippe Coutinho injured, Suárez kicking his heels one last time in the stands and Iago Aspas struggling badly, the lack of inspirationin the final third also told.
On the summer transfer policy Rodgers said: "From the club's perspective we felt like we needed another centre-back and then there was another younger one who became available [Tiago Ilori]. And that was something that the club wanted to do and protect that position for a number of years. I think Sakho is a strong aggressive player who will only get better. I thought he did very well. We were on the look-out for a No10 but we were unable to get one. But that's something we can't worry about now. We've got one of the world's leading strikers coming back into the team and that will give us a lift."
Man of the match Adam Lallana (Southampton)
"A bad day at the office," was the Liverpool manager's verdict and in fairness he has not overseen one since losing at Southampton in March. Rodgers had also injected reality into the optimism generated during Liverpool's unbeaten start, accepting his team rose to the top without a convincing 90-minute display.
His programme notes captured perfectly the balance between Liverpool's ingrained ambition and the leap required after four seasons outside the Champions League. The team-sheet he compiled, however, lacked any such finesse. The bad day commenced in his office.
Rodgers' decision to start with four centre-halves dominated the post-match scrutiny on Liverpool, Suárez apart, and the manager was steadfast in his own defence. "It is what we had available," he argued, given injury to Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly's lack of match fitness and a knee problem for José Enrique that did not stop the Spaniard's introduction shortly after Dejan Lovren headed Southampton into a deserved lead.
The selection accommodated all the experienced voices and recent £16m signing Mamadou Sakho in a left-back role he recently stated was not for him. More importantly, and inevitably, it disrupted Liverpool's cohesion, penetration from full-back and distribution. Southampton accepted the initiative gratefully.
"It raised a couple of eyebrows," said Adam Lallana of Liverpool's line-up. "But we concentrated more on our game and forced our game-plan on them well. They are a team that likes to play out from the back, like us, so we played a high-pressing game to win the ball back in areas where we could affect the game. They had to play it long and that's what we wanted them to do. Our back four were brilliant. They were like rocks. We thoroughly deserved to win and had the chances to make it two or three-nil in the second half.
"We've had a tough start to the season. Teams like West Ham and Norwich are not easy teams to play against.
"We felt the way Liverpool played we could maybe capitalise on their style and it would suit us a little bit better. We found we did that, we got the ball back in good areas and created chances."
Victory tasted "sweet" for Lallana, the Everton-supporting Southampton captain, one of a number of vibrant performers in black. Pochettino's team were composed and disciplined from the off, from Artur Boruc in goal, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne demonstrating the value of incisive full-backs, Lovren and José Fonte in the heart of defence and Victor Wanyama in central midfield. They improved to a swagger on the counter-attack after the interval, encouraged by Liverpool's carelessness.
Defensive uncertainty in the home ranks proved contagious. The goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, spread panic throughout Anfield whenever he tried to play his way out of trouble. "I play that style with the national team as well and I am very confident with doing that," he insisted. "It is not a problem." A long, awkward silence followed that answer.
Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Sturridge, all instrumental in the unbeaten opening, all toiled and the winning goal encapsulated the Liverpool display. Kolo Touré and Martin Skrtel conspired to concede a throw-in, then a corner, and Lovren headed Lallana's delivery beyond Mignolet despite the presence of the four centre-halves. "Criminal," said Rodgers. Liverpool finished with a totally different defensive formation and with Daniel Agger's prospects of facing Manchester United in the Capital One Cup reduced after aggravating a rib injury. Rodgers has abundant options in that department but, with Philippe Coutinho injured, Suárez kicking his heels one last time in the stands and Iago Aspas struggling badly, the lack of inspirationin the final third also told.
On the summer transfer policy Rodgers said: "From the club's perspective we felt like we needed another centre-back and then there was another younger one who became available [Tiago Ilori]. And that was something that the club wanted to do and protect that position for a number of years. I think Sakho is a strong aggressive player who will only get better. I thought he did very well. We were on the look-out for a No10 but we were unable to get one. But that's something we can't worry about now. We've got one of the world's leading strikers coming back into the team and that will give us a lift."
Man of the match Adam Lallana (Southampton)
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