His lack of resources showed with Ben Woodburn, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Blackpool, in the squad for the first time in two years alongside 18-year-old centre-back Billy Koumetio, making his debut on a Premier League bench.
The game quickly settled into a familiar pattern at Anfield of chances created but not converted with Fraser Forster, returning in goal, twice saving from Salah and once from Diogo Jota while Jannik Vestergaard blocked Thiago’s follow-up.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s header hit the crossbar while Phillips, the hosts’ only real aerial threat, headed wide from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner.
Mane and Thiago on target as Reds beat Southampton
James Carroll Liverpool closed the gap on the Premier League top four with a 2-0 victory over Southampton at Anfield on Saturday night.
Sadio Mane headed the Reds into the lead on 31 minutes after Mohamed Salah had stood up a cross towards the back post.
Thiago Alcantara struck his first goal for the club as the game entered added time when he swept in from just outside of the area to make certain of the outcome.
The result moves Jürgen Klopp’s side to within six points of fourth-placed Leicester City, with a game in hand.
EPL: Liverpool sink Southampton to keep top-four hopes alive
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Liverpool s German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) celebrates with Liverpool s English defender Rhys Williams (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England. Photo: AFP
Published 8 May 2021
Liverpool kept alive their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League as Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara sealed a 2-0 win against Southampton on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side moved above Tottenham into sixth place thanks to Mane’s first-half header and Thiago’s first goal for the club in the final moments at Anfield.
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Southampton will be looking to heap yet more Anfield misery on the Reds this weekend, but they have endured struggles of their own this season.
You might be planning on enjoying a drink or a takeaway on Saturday night, but Jurgen Klopp and his players can’t!
Liverpool host a Saints side who have suffered a similarly dispiriting campaign to the Premier League champions, with injuries and form hampering them both.
For the Reds, this is a must-win match in the top-four race following two weeks since that gut-wrenching late draw with Newcastle.
Ahead of the game, we spoke to writer and Saints fan Luke Osman (@lukeosman ) to get the lowdown on a disappointing season, Liverpool’s Champions League hopes and Saturday’s meeting.
TEN-MAN Saints produced a resolute display to grind out an impressive point against in-form Leicester City with a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s. The writing appeared to be on the wall for the hosts as early as the 10th minute, when Jannik Vestergaard was given his marching orders for a foul on Jamie Vardy. However, Saints dug in commendably and even took the lead early in the second half as James Ward-Prowse fired home from the penalty spot. But Leicester’s extra man did eventually tell as they earned a share of the spoils thanks to a Jonny Evans header.