From: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/season/next/ "Liverpool face a tricky match at the St Mary's Stadium against high flying Southampton. Gordon Strachan's side have been in great form this season and playing some terrific football with striker James Beattie in the form of his life. The Saints won a five goal thriller here against Arsenal and hammered Tottenham in the FA Cup. Last season Liverpool produced their worst display of the season and lost 2-0 at Southampton, where John Arne Riise scored a bizarre own goal. Hopefully it will be better fortunes for the Reds this time around." With a win we'll pass the Saints into fifth or sixth postion in the table, depending on other results. Diao serves a one-match ban; Hamann is still hurt. My lineup: ..............Kirkland Carragher--Hyypia--Henchoz--Traore ....Diouf--Murphy--Gerrard--Riise ...........Mellor--Owen Subs: Dudek Baros Smicer Heskey Biscan ----
Say hello to 12 matches without a win. The Saints will win this one 2-1 off of goals by Beattie and Fernandes with Owen sneaking one in during the last 15 minutes of the match.
RedKnight, your lineup looks good. Sooner or later we will play well. Perhaps Saturday is it. Trolls should return to the other 1 poster on their teams site. Remember Cinderellas often turn to pumpkins by May.
No credit to my football acumen; the squad I listed is just about all we have available to put on the teamsheet--when you take away the suspension, injuties, and out-of-form players. This would be a great time to get rolling again--with Southampton, two Cup ties, and Arsenal coming up. ----
I'd like to see us play a more attacking formation... Riise at left back and Heskey in the starting line up.
Re: Re: Southampton v. Liverpool, 1/18/03 [R] With who in midfield? Smicer, Biscan, Heskey? Sadly, they're not many options available if Liverpool is to field thier best team. Riise should be in midfield. Playing Djouf on wing would be frightening enough.
Heskey's fitness has been a little suspect lately. He's missed some games with an ankle knock, and he didn't look good at all last time out. I think Riise has been very solid nearly all year at both positions, but he's much better at left mid than left back. As mbrossetti writes, we have no one as good as Riise in left mid right now. And I've said it before--and will say it again here--I don't have any problem at all with Traore in the back. He's the "pleasant suprise" for me this season. ----
Re: Re: Re: Southampton v. Liverpool, 1/18/03 [R] What's wrong with Vladamir Smicer playing in the midfield?? He is a creative player and now is as good a chance as any to give him a decent run in the team.
Don't know what mbrossetti would say, but if you ask me, I chose Diouf over Smicer because he played better last time out. I not only think Diouf has a chance to give us that elusive "W" factor on the right--I'm beginning to think that may be the only place he can fit into the squad. Smicer is truly gifted and clever, and the choice was tough for me, but that decision Vlad made to cut the ball into the middle last week--rather than shoot--kind of turned me off on him, and not for the first time. For whatever reason, I think he's great for us when we're in Europe, but domestically he just seems to falter. ----
Why not play both Diouf and Smicer with Jon Arne Riise at left back and Traore on the bench?? We need to start winning games and therefore need to be more attack minded.
Re: Re: Southampton v. Liverpool, 1/18/03 [R] you just answered your own question. having Riise at LB isn't an attack minded choice...Riise is one of our most attack minded players in the squad, and playing him at LB is severly restricting his capabilities. You're going to get much more out of Riise in the midfield than Smicer...maybe bring Vlad in for the last 25 min or so if needed.
This is the line up according to the official site: Kirkland Carragher Hyypia Henchoz Traore Riise Murphy Gerrard Diouf Owen Heskey Subs: Dudek Smicer Biscan Cheyrou Baros
A bright start by the Reds. 0-0 after 12 minutes. Had three good chances and forced some good saves from Niemi. Heskey scores! 1-0 Reds!!
BBC reports it as Riise free kick not Gerrard, so we'll see. Liverpool continuing to play well. Riise and Heskey with good chances. Good save from Heskey's chance. 21 mins 1-0 to the Reds.
No problem. Most posters here are waiting for the FSW broadcast later today. I can't wait that long! Half time: Southampton 0 - 1 Liverpool
Second half underway. Early save by Kirkland. Southampton starting strong in the second half. Most likely with Strachan's words ringing in their ears.
Owen and Murphy combine and force a corner Impressive play by Owen. Murphy's shot deflected. Now Saints back upfield. And a corner for them. Cleared by Gerrard. 53 mins still 1-0 to the Reds
Saints subs warming up. End to end match right now. Gerrard to Riise to Owen, Owen puts it wide. Fantastic move, great ball by Gerrard, somehow Owen misses chance.
Good work by Heskey leads to Reds free kick Heskey's best match of the season according to comms. Riise takes kick, crosses it, cleared by saints. Even Jamie C. was up for that one!
Owen and Diouf combine and a shot by Diouf goes over. Riise was open in the middle. Saints subs: Ormerod and A. Svensson on for Tessem and Marsden
66 mins Saints 0 - 1 Liverpool Hyypia defends well against Beattie, then Svensson leaves his foot in on Traore and gets booked. Great move: Owen to Heskey to Riise Poor cross by Riise Diouf shoots from distance, off target.
Corner to Southampton Free kick for Reds, pushing in the box by saints. Confirmation that our goal was by Heskey and Riise did provide the cross, not Gerrard. Fernandes shot over the top, Gerrard limping.