THE PREMIER League title race will be going down to the final day after Liverpool fought back to defeat Southampton 2-1.
Jurgen Klopp made NINE changes to his starting XI from the FA Cup final last weekend, and his decision paid off.
Manchester City now lead by just ONE point going into the final round of fixtures of a thrilling Prem season.
- Result: Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
- Southampton XI: McCarthy; Lyanco, Salisu, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Redmond, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi; Broja, Tella.
- Liverpool XI: Alisson; Tsimikas, Matip, Konate, Gomez; Milner, Jones, Elliott, Minamino; Firmino, Jota.
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Klopp sets standard for the rest
Jurgen Klopp has set the gold standard for passion, hunger and management in the Premier League.
He shows how much every kick, tackle and card matters to him and takes it all so personally.
It is what the fans want to see in a manager that it means as much to him as it does to them.
Klopp has changed what football means to these fans and they would not bet against their German manager winning all four trophies.
Matip the man for Klopp’s battlers
Bookies would have not expected to be paying out any money tonight on a Joel Matip winner at St Mary’s Stadium.
The Cameroon international took advantage of Southampton’s Achilles heel which seems to be set pieces this season to head past Alex McCarthy into the top corner.
Liverpool looked comfortable apart from the final five minutes where nerves did eat away at their team.
Guardiola will be ruing Liverpool’s comeback this evening.
Pressure put back on City’s shoulders
On paper, you would have no doubt that Man City would win at home against Aston Villa to defend their Premier League crown.
Football has a funny way of throwing up drama in most unexpected of places as City all too well know.
They will face tough opponents on Sunday with a manager who would love nothing more than doing his old side a huge favour.
For the neutral, it makes for an entertaining final day of the season with titles to be won, Champions League spots to be decided as well as someone still looking to fill that final relegation spot.
What a day of football to look forward to.
FT: Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
And that is that.
Man City will not be celebrating any titles just yet.
Liverpool have made sure this will go to the wire.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
90+2. Ward-Prowse is causing problems for Liverpool.
His pinpoint deliveries are putting them under the kosh.
Alisson is grateful to hold onto the ball.
Klopp knows his side are almost over the finish line.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
90. Southampton are knocking on the door now.
Liverpool cannot get out of their own half.
We will have three additional minutes added on.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
88. Liverpool are giving The Saints not time in possession.
This is allowing them to force errors and win back the ball.
Currently, it is The Reds who are struggling to keep hold of it.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
86. Time is running out for Southampton.
Liverpool are pressing for that killer goal.
Southampton have dropped a lot of points from winning positions this season and unless they can find a goal in the next five minutes or so this will only fan those flames.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
84. There seems to be more urgency about Southampton now.
Last home game of the season, they cannot go down with a whimper.
The St Mary’s faithful have experienced that all too often this season.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
82. Broja comes off for Che Adams.
Naby Keita comes on for Roberto Firmino.
Liverpool looking to bolster their midfield to see this game out.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
80. Game management seems to be the way for Liverpool.
They are getting forward but if there is nothing on they are more than happy to pass the ball all the way back to their defence.
Possession is key to closing this game out now and Jurgen Klopp will have told his players just that.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
78. This will be a big test for Liverpool’s much-changed line up.
Stick or twist time.
Another goal wins the game, to concede one loses a potential title shot.
Curtis Jones is coming alive in the centre for the visitors.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
76. Broja turns Konate and goes to ground.
A free kick is the decision quite rightly.
Had Konate got a touch on the ball he may have got away with that one.
No drama for Klopp’s side as they immediately regain possession.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
74. Redmond goes down under the challenge of Matip.
The referee is in a good position and decides no foul.
Liverpool get the ball forward to Origi who turns his man and is hauled to the ground.
This time a free kick is given.
And a yellow card.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
72. The replays show that Matip got the telling touch for the goal.
What a huge goal that could be for his club and the player.
Southampton need to be more positive now.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
70. Milner goes down as he is fouled.
Seemingly turning his ankle in the challenge.
Stuart Armstrong and Romeu come on for Southampton.
Milner is back up on his feet.
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
68. Elyounoussi fails to clear the ball at the near post with his header.
It is debatable who got the final touch but initially it looked like Joel Matip headed into the top corner.
McCarthy was well beaten.
Liverpool fans wont care who got the telling touch as long as the ball is in the back of the net.
Goal – Joel Matip (Liverpool)
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
66. Liverpool seem to be lacking that final pass to open up the Southampton defence.
They are creating half chances but are not testing McCarthy enough.
Liverpool win another corner.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
64. Southampton look to break down the right.
A searching ball for the run is cut out by Alisson outside of his box.
The visitors go straight down the other end before Firmino fashions a shooting chance but his shot from outside the box is straight at McCarthy.
Elliott is replaced by Origi.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
62. Liverpool are knocking on the door.
They are getting balls into the box but it is lacking that final touch.
This time Tsimikas finds Jota but his touch does not take it towards goal.
It looks like it is time for cult-hero Divock Origi to join us.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
60. This has been the tactic of Southampton from the start of the game, absorb and counter.
They are looking to allow Liverpool to come at them but to keep their lines tight and rigid.
The problem at the moment is that the ball is coming straight back at them and there is no respite for The Saints.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
58. Liverpool have yet another corner.
The visitors send up the big guns for the set piece.
It is taken short to Elliott but his attempted shot is blocked.
Klopp’s men come straight back at Southampton as they fail to hold onto the ball.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
56. It is end to end stuff at the moment.
Alisson hasn’t had much to do at all this evening apart from picking the ball out of his own net.
Liverpool need to find a way to get the three points this evening, even if it is not pretty.
Sometimes champions have to win ugly, if Liverpool harbour any dreams of that, they need at least one more goal.
Southampton 1-1 Liverpool
54. The Saints are trying to give their opponents something to worry about defensively.
In some respects it is their best bet of keeping things quiet in their own box.
Liverpool dominated the early stages of the second half without as much as a shot fired in anger by Southampton.
It is only so long the hosts could withstand the barrage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
