Southampton got their tactics wrong and they suffered. It was a good result, a really good result.
Liverpool played within what they can do, maybe 7/10. Possibly 8/10 at most but won 4-0 so can’t really complain about that. They reserved their energy, like they did against Manchester United and Arsenal when the game was over.
They didn’t go to get five, six or seven. They just played within themselves to make sure there were no injuries and now all eyes on the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
But even though they could and should have scored more, it’s great to see, from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s point of view especially, all the strikers going for the Golden Boot!
They should be because they’re all capable of getting it.
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Sadio Mane is unlucky not to have three or four more goals this year but he’s been just slightly offside on a couple of occasions.
Diogo Jota is starting to link up like Bobby Firmino does. He’s getting involved in the areas where the manager wants him to get involved.
What he’s doing that Bobby doesn’t do, he sprints to get into the six-yard box and get on the end of things where Bobby tends to sit on the edge of the box.
That’s where he’s getting joy. He links up, he comes deep and when he has that ball, he passes it to Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane or whoever.
Then he sprints and gets into the box and that’s very similar to what I used to do! I was a box player, picking up any bits around the six-yard box.
That’s what I love about him. We haven’t had a player like that for a while really, since probably Michael Owen. Suarez wasn’t a box player, he was everything. Torres as well but that’s what he does.
He gets into those little places where you want to see your strikers get. If he keeps on playing, he’ll get 20+ goals this season no problem.
He’s going to be influential, along with Bobby Firmino, in January especially.
Looking ahead the manager has to make sure there are no more injuries going into January or it could end up like the centre-half position last year and have no strikers.
That’s what Liverpool has always thrived on over the years, competition for places. Tsimikas has done way better than I’d thought this year for example.
He is pushing Andy Robertson so Andy knows he is capable of taking over. He’s put pressure on him and he responded brilliantly on Saturday.
He was probably man of the match. The balls into the box, defending - everything. It was like he was back to normal. Players do have dips in form, of course they do, they’re only human.
Andy looks like he has come out of this little dip. He’s been fantastic for us while he’s been at the club. He’s a crowd-pleaser because they love to see the passion he shows, so it’s great to see him back.
It’s the depth of squad you have to have. If there’s anything about in January with the striker situation, the manager might have to do something but we’ll have to wait and see.
But it’s good to see the midfielders all coming back ahead of a crucial period and some difficult games, at least.
"That's a red, ref!"
I'm fed up of opposition players targeting Sadio Mane.
It happened last year and it’s happening more now. It’s horrible when teams try and get players sent off and try and wind them up.
He’s just got to not react. Once he reacts, he’s off.
The first time I saw the tackle, I thought there wasn’t much in it. But when I saw it the second time, it’s a sending off. It’s nasty, it’s an ankle-breaker.
I can see where Jurgen is coming off. You don’t want to see players getting sent off but if players keep trying to wind him up, I’ll be delighted to see them getting sent off if they keep on trying to do him.
Salah for Ballon d'Or
Messi or Ronaldo shouldn’t get it. There are dozens of players who have done better than they have over the year.
There are players in the mix who have done a lot better but we’ll wait and see.
I’d give it to Salah. I’d love Salah to get it, even though he was quiet at the start of the year.
What he’s done since then puts him above them two for me.
