Jurgen Klopp must have been immensely relieved and thanking the stars that Liverpool not only survived the difficult challenge the Saints posed in their cataclysmic tryst but actually managed to turn what could’ve easily been a humiliating loss into an astounding 4-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.
It was clear from the first whistle that the Reds were helter skelter and far from their usual mercurial best in a chaotic first half that showed they might not actually be as impenetrable and invincible as they have been made out to be all this while. In fact, they were looking so disoriented it was difficult, if not impossible, to imagine how they would haul themselves out of the hole they had begun falling into in the first half especially if Danny Ings, Shane Long and Nathan Redmond had not squandered ample opportunities to recod a major upset.
However, the second half saw a totally different scenario unfolding as the Reds suddenly snapped out of their trance with the first effective salvo coming from a 47th-minute strike by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to soothe the frayed Liverpool nerves. This first goal seemed to be the cue, and the inspiration, the Reds had been waiting for all along as they quickly shrugged off their earlier listlessness and began to reorganise themselves into the effective, mean machine of destruction that had been instiling fear into the opposition all these many months.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal was soon followed by a breathtaking sizzler from the captain, Jordan Henderson. The final decisive two goals from Mohamed Salah brought down the curtains and sealed the 24th win in 25 Premier League games this season for Jurgen and his Reds.
Klopp heaped praise on his team for their remarkable second half resurrection and let the cat out of the bag that factoring Fabinho into the reshuffle for the second half was the key to the Reds’ ultimate win:
“We had to change two or three things; most importantly we had to change the involvement of Fabinho. We played much calmer and used Fabinho better. It was just a better game and, in the end, we won it.”
He was well aware that the consequences could’ve been dire for Liverpool had the Saints been able to convert on their early opportunities in the first half. He was admittedly impressed with Southampton’s scintillating display:
“First and foremost, I really have to say, wow, Southampton – what a team that is. I have been in football for so long and have never seen a turnaround like that.”
“When I saw them playing at home against Chelsea months ago, I was really worried. That kind of turnaround is just exceptional. The set-up they have is constantly causing you problems. Their defending is really good and then their counter attacks are exceptional. [Danny] Ings and [Shane] Long, what they do there up front, how they are supported by the midfield and the wingers, is just exceptional.”
“The strange thing about this game is that it’s not even too high a scoreline; it’s just strange that Southampton could have won it as well. That just shows how difficult it was. Even more so, we are really pleased about the outcome.”
The final outcome this time around says it all – that even when they are not playing well, Liverpool amazingly, for whatever reasons unbeknownst to the rest of the football world, somehow still ends up playing well.