[lfc-news] Southampton report - PA

PA Sport, 22 Jan 2005
Southampton 2 Liverpool 0

Harry Redknapp finally registered his first Barclays Premiership win as
Southampton manager after his side took glorious advantage of a horror
show by Liverpool.

Two up in 22 minutes, the south coast team recorded their third league
win of the season thanks to goals by David Prutton and Peter Crouch -
his third in consecutive games.

There could have been more as former West Ham and Portsmouth boss
Redknapp, in charge for his eighth Saints league game, posted his
first-ever triumph as a manager at St Mary's.

Steven Gerrard was passed fit and his return was one of eight changes in
Rafael Benitez's side following the shock FA Cup exit at Burnley in midweek.

Fernando Morientes, Milan Baros, Luis Garcia and Mauricio Pellegrino
were all back in the starting line-up for Liverpool, who had new
£750,000 goalkeeper Scott Carson among the substitutes.

But Saints had new £2.1million signing Nigel Quashie ruled out with a
knee ligament injury sustained in training in his first week away from
local rivals Portsmouth. Anders Svensson filled his place, with Trinidad
& Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones on the bench.

It became clear early on that Peter Crouch would have to plough a lone
furrow up front for Saints who, with Kevin Phillips injured, packed the
midfield.

But after Baros failed to make contact with Jamie Carragher's cross, a
careless error by Pellegrino gave David Prutton the opening to give
Saints a fifth-minute lead.

The Argentinian was under no pressure to clear a Southampton attack but
instead he scuffed the ball straight back to Prutton who, hardly
believing his luck, pressed on deeper into the penalty area before
firing past Jerzy Dudek.

There was just one real moment of alarm when Baros, chasing a through
ball towards the right-wing corner flag, turned it back into the centre
when Gerrard chested it down and fired over.

That was soon forgotten as Southampton cruised into a 2-0 lead on 22
minutes when Crouch was granted the freedom of the Liverpool penalty
area to head home at the far post from Prutton's right-wing cross.

Crouch's height was causing Liverpool problems at the back and the
accuracy of Prutton's crosses was another factor in their misery, and
the former headed just off-target from the latter's centre in the 28th
minute.

Gerrard tried to get a Liverpool attack going but only succeeded in
setting Rory Delap clear with only Dudek to beat. However, the Republic
of Ireland player's effort was straight at the Polish stopper.

Gerrard produced a better effort when, fed by Baros, he hit a low
18-yard drive which Antti Niemi had to get his body behind.

Jamie Redknapp was booked for a bad tackle but he was doing a super job
for Saints up against Gerrard in midfield.

Another good move saw Crouch shoot on the turn after a good run by Delap
but fired straight at the well-advanced Dudek.

Liverpool sent on young Frenchman Florent Sinama-Pongolle in place of
Stephen Warnock at the start of the second half but stuck to a 4-4-2
formation.

The newcomer made a promising start with a right wing run and cross that
nobody could reach.

But referee Alan Wiley infuriated Southampton by awarding a Liverpool
goal kick when Delap appeared to have a good case for a corner, and then
interrupting play to book Dietmar Hamann for a foul when Southampton
were in good possession.

Liverpool, however, were stepping up their efforts and Luis Garcia
tested Niemi before Morientes shot just wide.

And referee Wiley awarded a free-kick for Baros when the striker went
down like a sack of potatoes as Calum Davenport challenged in the air.

Liverpool won a more legitimate free-kick after 56 minutes just five
yards outside the area.

Hamann set up Gerrard for a rising shot that grazed the top of the bar
as it flashed over.

Morientes fired wastefully over on the hour as the visitors began to
create more openings.

Prutton, however, was a busy figure for the home side, with
lung-bursting runs to join Crouch in attack, and he was in position to
fire a half-volley that spun away for a corner.

Liverpool suffered a blow when key defender Sami Hyypia limped off in
the 67th minute to be replaced by youngster David Raven.

Raven survived a penalty appeal in the 71st minute when he appeared to
nudge Crouch but the referee was having nothing to do with it.

Baros and Morientes were off target and Pongolle failed to get the ball
back from the left with several team-mates queuing up to finish.

Gerrard, typically, battled to the end and was just wide after another
lung-bursting run with nine minutes to go.

You could not fault Southampton who had planned their strategy and
finished their chances with a convincing flourish.

Southampton: Niemia, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson
(Jakobsson 76), Prutton, Delap, Redknapp, Svensson (Jones 89), Crouch.
Subs not used: Smoth, Oakley, Ormerod
Booked: Redknapp
Goals: Prutton 5, Crouch 22

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia (Raven 67), Pellegrino, Warnock
(Sinama Pongolle 45), Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann (Biscan 78), Riise,
Baros, Morientes.
Subs not used: Carson, Traore
Booked: Luis Garcia, Hamann

Att: 32,017
Referee: A Wiley

REDKNAPP HAILS SAINTS SPIRIT'

Southampton manager Harry Redknapp hailed the "bulldog spirit" shown by
his side as they beat Liverpool 2-0 at St Mary's.

It was Saints' first Barclays Premiership win under Redknapp, and only
their third in the competition this season, lifting them into 18th and
only in the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.

The home side made a superb start as Prutton seized on an error by
Mauricio Pellegrino and squeezed a shot past Jerzy Dudek at the
goalkeeper's near post in the fifth minute.

The former Nottingham Forest man then crossed to the unmarked Peter
Crouch, who headed home Saints' second.

Redknapp told Sky Sports' Prem Plus: "We changed the system, we played
one up (front) and five across the midfield. We decided we were going to
run and join (the attack) and it worked a treat.

"We were excellent in midfield today, they worked their socks off. They
showed bulldog spirit today.

"We've got players who are confident and not afraid to play under pressure.

Asked for his thoughts on next weekend's FA Cup fourth round match, a
derby clash with Portsmouth, he added: "We want to win next week but
league points are more important.

"We're in a relegation battle and we've got to stay in the Premiership."

First goalscorer David Prutton added: "We did really well today and
defended right to the end and it's full credit to everyone that we won.

"The midfield was excellent, Jamie (Redknapp) played well, Rory (Delap)
did well, having that extra man helps.

"A big thing has been made of the lack of confidence here but we really
took it to Liverpool today and we have to do that every week if we're
going to get out of trouble."

Peter Crouch, who operated as a lone striker to great effect, added:
"Everyone knows how hard it is to play up front on your own but I had to
do it for team today.

"We were thinking about the Middlesbrough game (where they led 2-0 but
could only draw 2-2) but we all worked hard and got the reward.

"There's four teams battling down there and hopefully we can be the ones
to get out of it."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool need to ``recover
quickly'' after today's defeat, with a Carling Cup semi-final second leg
against Watford looming on Tuesday.

He said: ``It is always important when you lose to think about winning
the next game. If you concede two goals very soon it is never easy to
get back.

"We conceded too soon and they tried to play the long ball. We needed to
go forward more but it was difficult."

Asked if Liverpool were poor defensively for the goals, Benitez said:
"Yes. In the second half we had some chances but it is more difficult
when you are losing and you know time is against you.

"It is always important if you lose to think about the next game. We
will try to recover quickly."


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