Liverpool ended their disappointing season with a sport that summed up their inconsistent marketing campaign, transport 4 objectives to already-relegated Southampton.
Southampton 4-4 Liverpool
Premier League (38), St Mary’s
Could 28, 2023
Targets
Jota 10′ (help: Lavia )
Firmino 14′ (help: Fabinho)
Ward-Prowse 19′
Sulemana 28′
Sulemana 47′
A. Armstrong 65′
Gakpo 72′ (help: Alexander-Arnold)
Jota 73′ (help: Salah)
There was an actual end-of-season really feel at St Mary’s because the solar beat down and two sides with nothing to play for confronted off, with Jurgen Klopp‘s aspect reflecting that.
Klopp made seven adjustments, utterly resting Alisson and Virgil van Dijk from the squad and giving James Milner and Roberto Firmino farewell begins.
Liverpool had been gifted the opening purpose when Saints midfielder Romeo Lavia performed a blind go straight for Diogo Jota to go into the open internet eight yards out.
The lead was doubled inside 4 minutes, Firmino with a beautiful faux to sit down two defenders down contained in the field then end for his thirteenth purpose of the season.
Si Senor was already dominating the away followers’ songbook and that cranked up a notch after one other Bobby purpose!
However Liverpool went on to sum up their season within the opening half hour, conceding twice after some actually sloppy defending.
The primary was when James Ward-Prowse completed a good transfer after being given acres of house contained in the field, Liverpool’s much-changed defence was all at sea.
Extra poor defending then let Southampton in for an equaliser by way of Kamaldeen Sulemana, who completed after Liverpool gave the ball away once more. Caoimhin Kelleher ought to have finished higher in purpose too.
Half time: Southampton 2-2 Liverpool
The second half began with equally poor defending and Sulemana scored his second purpose of the sport with ease, waltzing previous Fabinho in midfield and ending previous Kelleher.
‘How shit should you be’ was the mantra from the house followers who had solely seen their aspect win twice at St. Mary’s all season.
A quadruple sub simply earlier than the hour noticed Firmino depart the pitch for the ultimate time as a Liverpool participant.
Jordan Henderson, one of many subs, gave the ball away in midfield and Adam Armstrong ran on the defence to complete previous Kelleher for his first purpose since final August.
Liverpool then in some way levelled it at 4-4 with two objectives inside a minute.
First, Cody Gakpo tapped in from contained in the six yard field, then inside seconds Salah arrange for Jota to rifle into the highest nook for his second of the sport.
Liverpool virtually gifted a fifth for Southampton, Alexander-Arnold giving the ball away inside his personal field.
The sport was a multitude with so little high quality, a reminder of how dangerous Liverpool have been for many of this season, after some improved type during the last 10 video games earlier than it.
A draw it ended, for a match that summed up Liverpool’s inconsistent and disappointing season.
Liverpool finish the season in fifth place, on 67 factors – the bottom in a full season below Klopp.
Subsequent season must be significantly higher.
TIA Man of the Match: James Milner
Referee: Darren England
Southampton: McCarthy; Bree, Lyanco, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Lavia, Ward-Prowse; Sulemana, Alcarax, Elyounoussi; Walcott
Subs: Bazunu, Caleta-Automobile, Livramento, Doyle, Amo-Ameyaw, Aribo, S.Armstrong, Ballard, A.Armstrong
Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas (Elliott 58′); Fabinho (Henderson 58′), Milner, Jones (Diaz 58′); Salah, Jota, Firmino (Gakpo 58′)
Subs not used: Adrian, Konate, Williams,, Carvalho, Arthur
