Reds sink Saints

Liverpool clinched a vital victory over Southampton at Anfield yesterday afternoon thanks to a headed effort from Daniel Agger. The Reds were clearly the better side throughout and should have added to their tally but failed to do so, therefore allowing the possibility that the Saints may snatch a late leveller. Fortunately, the visitors lacked the required firepower up front and the hosts secured three crucial points and a pleasing clean sheet.

The main team news was that Lucas Leiva returned from injury, making his first start since August alongside Allen and Gerrard in the middle of the park. Downing was thankfully demoted to the bench, as Enrique reverted to left back while Shelvey and Sterling supported Luis Suarez in attack.

Before kick-off, there was a minute of applause to remember the life of Stephen Packer, a player for Liverpool's under-9s who tragically died of cancer recently.

Liverpool's players pay tribute to Stephen Packer

Soon after the start of the contest, boyhood Liverpool fan Rickie Lambert, who scored at Anfield for his primary school team, had the first sight of goal, firing just wide from distance. Until his strike at the end of the half, Southampton didn't test Reina again and Liverpool remained firmly in charge.

Midway through the first period, Shelvey took a clever quick free kick to Suarez, who in turn teed up Gerrard. The skipper's shot was crucially cleared by a Southampton defender. Johnson then flew forward and shot straight at the spectacularly named Gazzaniga, before Shelvey's strike was turned away by the visiting goalkeeper. 

Undeterred, Shelvey continued to probe the away side's defence and went extremely close to breaking the deadlock after 35 minutes. A rapid Red counter attack culminated in the number 33 firing a shot against the junction between the post and the cross bar. It was an excellent effort from Shelvey, who is quickly becoming a permanent feature in Liverpool's first team and consistently performing to a very high level, impressing Kopites with his work rate and skill.

The opener that the Merseysiders' play deserved finally arrived two minutes before the break. Suarez curled a magnificent free kick against the bar and the ball was then delivered back into the box, where Daniel Agger superbly nodded into the corner to give Liverpool a crucial advantage heading into the interval.

Agger celebrates with his teammates

The second half progressed in much the same fashion. Apart from Ramirez's strike well over Reina's goal from range, Southampton showed little in the way of attacking intent, while Liverpool continued to search for that second goal to kill off the contest, ultimately striving in vain.

Suarez and Enrique have been working well recently, and the pair almost combined again on 70 minutes, a neat one-two playing the Spaniard in on-goal. Unfortunately he lacked the goalscoring prowess of Suarez and shot just wide of the target.

Agger's header from Shelvey's corner then looped narrowly wide, before a free-flowing move involving Johnson, Sterling and Gerrard ended with Suarez punching the ball over the bar from close range. Referee Michael Oliver caught him red-handed and showed him his fifth yellow card of the campaign, which rules him out of next weekend's tricky trip to West Ham United.

Despite firing 24 shots and claiming 69% of possession, in the end Liverpool had to settle for a narrower margin of victory then they would have liked. Lucas' return, a clean sheet and someone other than Suarez scoring are all positives to take from the match, although Liverpool must start taking more of their chances if they are to travel further up the table. 

All in all, though, with teams above the Reds in the table dropping points, Liverpool can be pleased with what could be the first win of many in a month full of eminently winnable fixtures.

YNWA