Liverpool FC Forum

Liverpool Benefiting from Strength in Depth with Professional Win at Southampton
By Max Munton , Liverpool Correspondent Feb 22, 2015

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon was neither pretty nor scintillating. It was, however, a very professionally conducted win that moved the Reds closer to their season objective of a top-four finish.

Martin Skrtel’s organised and brave approach led to an eventually solid defensive performance. He began the match slightly rattled by the absence of Mamadou Sakho with a hip injury and Dejan Lovren’s subsequent turn in the Frenchman's place (he was greeted by a torrent of abuse from fans of his former club).

The half-time introduction of Alberto Moreno for Lazar Markovic tightened up the back line as Liverpool strongly held on for their fifth successive away clean sheet—an achievement the club haven’t managed in 30 years, to the delight of Brendan Rodgers, as per the Press Association (h/t This Is Anfield):

"We defended magnificently. We knew we needed to improve. At the beginning of the season we couldn't get the right balance.

Now there is and there's great confidence in the team. Our game still could be better but the result was important and everyone's contributed."

Far from an entertaining performance, Liverpool meticulously carved out a victory with a very scientific approach, looking compact and leaving very few areas of the pitch exposed.

Perhaps this was most evident in the fact that Raheem Sterling’s deflected goal on 73 minutes—which killed off any Southampton hopes of equalising—was only Liverpool’s second shot on target of the whole match.

Strength in depth

What's satisfying about this result is the fact that Rodgers and his team were able to get the job done while exercising an improved strength in depth this season.

With no Steven Gerrard or Sakho through injury and Rodgers resting Daniel Sturridge from the starting lineup ahead of big games against Besiktas and Manchester City next week, Liverpool proved they have rekindled an important cohesion beyond the first-choice XI.

Rodgers is all too wary of Sturridge’s recurring thigh problem earlier in the season, and with the latter having made a good return to action recently, handled him with sensible caution on Sunday—though his appearance in the last 30 minutes keeps him fresh for Thursday’s trip to Istanbul.

Mario Balotelli has impressed of late, but Rodgers, having called for further improvement from the Italian after his late winner against Besiktas on Thursday night, was able to leave him on the bench and stagger his improving form for long-term benefit.

Moreno's coming off the bench at half-time proved that Rodgers now has effective options to tweak his game plan to both hold a lead and win games, even when all guns aren’t blazing on the pitch. Furthermore, the late introduction of 30-year-old Glen Johnson gave Liverpool that valuable experience to hold out for the three points.

A tale of two benches

Comparing the Liverpool bench from the corresponding fixture last season—when the Reds ran out 3-0 winners at St Mary’s in March 2014—to Sunday's shows how much Rodgers has improved the club’s strength in depth.

Goalkeepers aside, Kolo Toure was the only player on both benches. He was joined a year ago by Iago Aspas, Victor Moses, Aly Cissokho, Sterling and Joao Teixeira. This year there were much more attractive options in Johnson, Sturridge, Rickie Lambert, Moreno and Balotelli.

There was much criticism of Rodgers and Liverpool’s transfer policy when results weren’t going the Reds' way, but credit should be given where credit is due.

Sunday’s comprehensive win at Southampton was not only a great three points but also affords Liverpool the luxury of being prepared for a big week in Europe and domestically.

The next 7 days:

Liverpool Fixtures
Europa League - Round of 32  Besiktas V Liverpool  Thu 26 Feb  18:00   
Premier League  Liverpool V Man City  Sun 1 Mar  12:00   

Man United Fixtures
Premier League  Man Utd V Sunderland  Sat 28 Feb  15:00 

Southampton Fixtures
Premier League  West Brom V Southampton   Sat 28 Feb  15:00   

Tottenham Hotspur Fixtures
Europa League - Round of 32  Fiorentina V Tottenham  Thu 26 Feb  18:00   
League Cup  Chelsea V Tottenham  Sun 1 Mar  16:00   

Arsenal Fixtures
Champions League - Round of 16  Arsenal V Monaco  Wed 25 Feb  19:45   
Premier League  Arsenal V Everton  Sun 1 Mar  14:05   

United and Southampton to win, LFC to draw with City, Arsenal to draw, Spurs don't play (not good for them).

If that comes about, the league moves from it's current:

Pos Team P Pts
1 Chelsea 26 60
2 Man City         26 55
3 Arsenal 26 48
4 Man Utd         26 47
5 Southampton 26 46
6 Liverpool         26 45
7 Tottenham 26 44

to:

Pos Team P Pts
1 Chelsea 27 63
2 Man City         27 56
3 Man Utd         27 50
4 Arsenal 27 49
5 Southampton 27 49
6 Liverpool         27 46
7 Tottenham 26 44

Where Liverpool have got to be careful is our goal difference is 10 goals worse than the other top 4 hopefuls - we have to start winning by bigger margins.

The run in is sizzling! Two lower pressure games to come, Burnley then Swansea. In Rafa's day we would relax too much and draw both, BR needs to motivate the lads and make sure we get all 6 points. After that its Ure at Anfield.  All to play for lads but all 9 points is not unrealistic.

Agree Reg. All guns blazing right now.  Let's just keep pushing on and see where the cards fall.

Reg » Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:07 am wrote:The run in is sizzling! Two lower pressure games to come, Burnley then Swansea. In Rafa's day we would relax too much and draw both, BR needs to motivate the lads and make sure we get all 6 points. After that its Ure at Anfield.  All to play for lads but all 9 points is not unrealistic.

Totally agree Reg, considering we have just taken 9 points from the last 3 games which on paper are more difficult, we mustn't let it slip on the next 3.

We should be getting 7-9 points in the next 3 games, but a win against the Mancs is a must. So a slip up (a draw) against Swansea won't be the end of the world but in our current form we should definitely beat them to make sure that we get above the mancs.

Considering our f*ck up in the first half of the season though there isn't a lot of room for error from now until the end of the season. We're allowed to drop points maybe 3 times at best. Now that we're out of the EL though the schedule isn't so tight at least. Maybe it really is a blessing in disguise that we're out of it.

Big games in the race for top 4

Arsenal

Arsenal V Liverpool (4th April)
Arsenal V Chelsea (26th April)
Man Utd V Arsenal (16th May)

Man Utd

Man utd V Tottenham ( 15th March)
Liverpool V Man utd ( 22nd March)
Man Utd v Man city ( 12th April)
Chelsea V Man utd ( 18th April )
Everton V Man utd ( 26th April)
Man Utd v Arsenal ( 16th May)

Liverpool

Liverpool V manutd (22nd March)
Arsenal V Liverpool (4th April)
Chelsea V Liverpool (9th May)

Tottenham

Man utd V Tottenham (15th March)
Southampton V Tottenham ( 25th April)
Tottenham V Man city (2nd May)
Everton V Tottenham ( 24th May)

Southampton

Chelsea V Southampton ( 15th March)
Everton V Southampton ( 4th April)
Southampton V Tottenham (25th April)
Man city V Southampton (24th May)

For anyone who thinks there is a chance we can get second

Man city

Man utd V Man city ( 12th April)
Tottenham V Man city ( 2nd May)
Man city V Southampton (24th May)

If United get in the top 4 they will fully deserve it after 6 of their remaning 10 fixtures being very tough

We are on the home straight now with only 10 league games left, I can't believe how quickly this season has gone, it's flown over.

Lets hope Rodgers has the balls to say to Gerrard he is not first choice and will have to make do with an occasional substitute role. If he lets sentimentality pick the team , we are ***** !

supersub » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:10 am wrote:Lets hope Rodgers has the balls to say to Gerrard he is not first choice and will have to make do with an occasional substitute role. If he lets sentimentality pick the team , we are ***** !

+1

supersub » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:10 am wrote:Lets hope Rodgers has the balls to say to Gerrard he is not first choice and will have to make do with an occasional substitute role. If he lets sentimentality pick the team , we are ***** !

Yep, good point.

At this moment in time that is really the only thing that can de-rail us in our final 10 game league run outside injuries to key players.

I would be absoulately horrified if Rodgers plays Gerrard in every single game when he comes back, especially with Lucas also returning soon.

We have seen that Gerrard and Lucas can't play in the midfield together.

Just keep Henderson and Countinho in there interchanging Lucas, Gerrard and Allen in the last remaining CM role.

eds » Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:35 am wrote:

supersub » Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:10 am wrote:Lets hope Rodgers has the balls to say to Gerrard he is not first choice and will have to make do with an occasional substitute role. If he lets sentimentality pick the team , we are ***** !

Yep, good point.

At this moment in time that is really the only thing that can de-rail us in our final 10 game league run outside injuries to key players.

I would be absoulately horrified if Rodgers plays Gerrard in every single game when he comes back, especially with Lucas also returning soon.

We have seen that Gerrard and Lucas can't play in the midfield together.

Just keep Henderson and Countinho in there interchanging Lucas, Gerrard and Allen in the last remaining CM role.

Stevie will play in most of the games from here on in I reckon    Definately the home games. Rodgers will just have to find a balance with him that works or else leave him out altogether which I doubt he will.

Johnson seems to have strolled back in also so I bet stevie will to.

I wouldn't rush Stevie back, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Premier League fixtures: which club has the hardest run-in?

With most clubs having just 10 games remaining this season, we analysed every club's Premier League run-in - and it's bad news for Manchester United and Liverpool

The finish line is now in sight for Premier League teams - and every game takes on added importance at either end of the table.
And past history suggests that the fixture list, as much as form and fitness, could play a decisive role in deciding who ends the season with a flourish.
Based on the average league position of their remaining opponents, West Ham have the easiest run-in to the end of the season, while West Bromwich have the toughest - they play the top five clubs, and will be hoping their top flight safety is secured sooner rather than later.

When it comes to challenging for the title, Manchester City have the easiest run-in, facing eight teams outside the top six. From the top four, Manchester United's hopes of securing a Champions League place are looking more flimsy as they face five of the current top seven, although Liverpool's run of games is hardly easier. Southampton and Tottenham, on the other hand, mainly face lower-half sides - even if Spurs have seven out of 11 remaining games away from home.

At the bottom, Hull and Crystal Palace are both keeping their heads above water at the moment, but both have horrible-looking run-ins, while Leicester should not lose hope just yet: the average position of their remaining opponents is 11.4.
Here's how the table breaks down:

Team
Average position of remaining opponents
West Ham       12.8
Tottenham      12.2
Southampton   11.9
Everton           11.7
Manchester City 11.5
Newcastle       11.5
Leicester         11.4
Chelsea           10.9
Swansea          10.7
Aston Villa       10.5
Arsenal            10.3
Burnley            10.2
Sunderland      10.2
QPR                 10.2
Stoke                9.8
Liverpool           9.4
Crystal Palace    9.1
Manchester United  8.9
Hull City            8.6
West Brom         8.4

Good post their Reg, but it really is a bit lopsided. It's basically saying based on form for the entire season, this is how hard your schedule is, without taking into consideration other factors. Current form is the biggest factor. Right now, we would be a five for every team playing us, but we're top of the form table and sure as hell playing a lot better than a fifth placed team.