'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool warmed up for the Champions League tie against FC Porto with a comfortable 2-0 win over Southampton at the St. Mary's Stadium as Virgil van Dijk returned to his old stomping ground since the mega-move in January.
It didn’t take long for the Reds to open the scoring as Roberto Firmino latched on to Mohamed Salah’s crisp pass inside the opening 10 minutes, before returning the favour just three minutes from half-time with a cheeky backheel which the Egyptian dispatched.
Having raced to a two-goal lead, the visitors eased off post the interval as the effervescence of the opening 45 minutes had evidently fizzled out. Some lacklustre finishing is sure to garner criticism whereas the hosts lacked the spark and hardly ever troubled Liverpool.
Here are the player ratings...
Southampton
Alex McCarthy – 6.5/10
The 28-year-old was helpless on both the goal-scoring occasions but did pull off some vital saves that prevented Southampton from being consigned to a heavier defeat. He was also helped by some sloppy finishing from Mane and the likes in the second-half.
Cedric Soares – 7.5/10
Cedric’s all-round performance made him one of the few bright players for an otherwise resigned Saints outfit. A danger down the left, the Portuguese conjured the only real moment of quality from the hosts by calling Karius to make a punch with a venomous shot, less than 10 minutes from time.
Jack Stephens – 6/10
The English youngster was caught off-guard each time Liverpool went on to score and was easily overpowered at the back as Liverpool effortlessly forayed into the final third.
Wesley Hoedt – 6/10
Hoedt was error-prone in the first half with shoddy defending and was responsible for the opening goal. He tried to redeem himself after a stuttering start by pushing himself into challenges and also made an effort when he connected to Ward-Prowse’s free-kick but could only drag it wide.
Ryan Bertrand – 8/10
Majority of Southampton’s initiatives at goal came through him, as Bertrand was a livewire down the right. He could’ve notched up an assist or two had his team-mates been more clinical with his pin-point passes and clever crosses.
Oriol Romeu – 7/10
The first Southampton player on the evening to go into the books, Romeu was heavily involved in the attack and produced a moment of real ingenuity when the Spaniard laid a terrific pass for Hojbjerg to convert. If only the latter could find the back of a net with more precision.
Mario Lemina – 6/10
He caused a tizzy when he went down in agony after a challenge from Oxlade-Chamberlain in the third minute and then again with an issue that the medical staff had to intervene in. Lemina seemed very off-coloured and later was substituted due to sickness.
James Ward-Prowse – 7/10
There were flashes of promise from the 23-year-old who has been on a fine run of form of late, although it’s a different story he couldn’t conjure anything great out of his hat here. But he was undeniably involved in the attack and mustered two shots at goal – half of what the whole of Southampton squad managed throughout the game.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 6/10
Wasted a brilliant chance to pull one back for the hosts when he meekly squandered Romeu’s beautiful pass in the first half. The former Bayern midfielder was nothing to write home about.
Dusan Tadic – 7/10
The Serb was in the thick of the things for the Saints as Tadic tried to create chances for his teammates and also tried his luck at goal on a few occasions.
Guido Carrillo – 6/10
Carillo made his first full home debut since joining from AS Monaco in January and capped off a whimper. The striker was in no man’s land as the home side struggled to make an impact in the box and the only effort he could muster was easily denied by Karius.
Substitutes
Soufiane Boufal – 6/10
Boufal unsuccessfully replaced a struggling Lemina just before the hour mark as the Saints’ tempo remained leisurely.
Shane Long – 6/10
Another failed substitution by Mauricio Pellegrino, Long replaced Ward-Prowse to bring flair into an otherwise toothless attack but he failed to do the same.
Steven Davis – 6/10
The final substitution by the hosts was also the final nail in the coffin as Davis too disappointed and did nothing to salvage anything from the match, although the excuse of a short game time may work in his favour this time.
Liverpool
Loris Karius – 8/10
The German put in a considerable shift at the back although he was a mere passenger in the second-half. Karius pulled off some encouraging stops before the break, twice denying James Ward-Prowse and a glancing header from Carrillo. He also showed great vigilance in reading Hojbjerg’s effort after Romeu laid an inviting cross early on.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.5/10
The 19-year old was in his groove and timely burst forward to support in the attack. The only time he was beaten was when Carrillo beat Alexander-Arnold for a tame header at the stroke of half hour.
Joel Matip – 6/10
Matip appeared out of sorts a bit during the first half and lacked communication with his partner Van Dijk, although he started the move for the second goal with a clever pass. The German was booked for a rash tackle on Dusan Tadic, but perked up a bit in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk – 8/10
On his return to the St Mary's, Van Dijk proved to be a commanding presence at the back as Liverpool registered their first clean-sheet with the Dutchman in the team. Carrillo was too feeble to ruffle his feathers as Van Dijk comfortably won his duels and played some good passes from the back.
Andy Robertson – 6.5/10
The left wing-back came a cropper at times as he was picked out by a back pass early on while his passes looked laboured. The only plus point from him was his never-ending energy and hard work.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
The Dutchman failed to find an away goal in his 50th attempt and was guilty of blasting his effort into the stands when some composure could’ve helped in his noble quest. But regardless, the former Newscastle United midfielder did well to maintain the flow of counters.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7.5/10
The ‘Ox’ laid a pass to Salah in the build-up to the opener and in what was his only meaningful contribution in the attack. He was, however, actively involved in the proceedings and never switched off.
Sadio Mane – 7/10
An uncharacteristically profligate showing from the Senegalese forward as he missed some really good chances despite good positioning. Mane, for all his efforts, just couldn’t aim his effort on target.
Mohamed Salah – 8.5/10
Another game, another goal, and another assist from the twinkle-toed Egyptian who shows no signs of sputtering out. Salah was just as brilliant in teeing up with Firmino as he was while dispatching the latter’s clever back-pass. He did, however, miss a chance or two in the second half which could’ve stretched Liverpool’s lead.
Roberto Firmino – 8/10
A pair of a goal and an assist each for the Brazilian too, who’s genuine moment of artistry was sliding the ball behind with his backheel that was perfectly weighted for Salah to latch on to. Fizzled out in the second-half when it’s comes to being clinical, but nevertheless helped conjure up some chances.
Substitutes
James Milner – 7/10
Milner brought panache to the midfield as Liverpool ensured they don’t cede dominance in the match. He was fortunate not to be carded for a seemingly rash challenge on Tadic in the second-half.
Adam Lallana – 6.5/10
Another former Southampton player involved, Lallana missed a glorious chance to make it three when he lashed a shot just wide off the mark.
Dejan Lovren – N/A
The Serb was brought on in injury time as a formality of a third substitution.
