Saints V Liverpool The Verdict
I am not one for blaming referees for losing matches, but I have to say the ref in this one had a big say on the outcome.
Saints didnt play badly in this game, they had 60% possession and 13 attempt on goal, but the only statistic that matters is goals scored and Liverpool won the game with a wonder goal in the 3rd minute that always left Saints chasing the game enabling Liverpool to do what they have been doing well of late and that is keep it tight at the back and snatch goals.
But the reality is that poor refereeing did not help Saints, in the first minute of the game Filip Djuricic was bundled over in the penalty area, you had the feeling that if this had been the 30th minute or even the 60th it might have been given, butreferee Kevin Friend was no friend of Saints and waved it away perhaps being so early in the game he did not want to give a big decision, one that meant that a player would be shown a red card.
A minute later and Saints were behind and you probably wont see a better shot from distance than Coutinhos as he put it straight in the top corner leaving Forster with no chance.
But Mr Friend was soon in the middle of another controversial incident, this time Allen brought Djuricic down and this looked to be more bolted on than the last and tv replays confirmed this was nailed on yet Mr Friend did nothing.
But perhaps the most controversial incident came just before the break Elia ran on to Clyne's through ball, Mignolet came rushing out but was in no mans land, Elia got there first and lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper, everyone in the ground saw Mignolet block with his hand outside the area bar Kevin Friend and his linesman, whether they both thought it was inside the box or he didnt handle it I don't know, but TV replays confirmed he was clearly a yard outside the box and he blocked it with his hand.
You sensed then it was not going to be Saints day, however a goal would change the game, but it was not to come and on 73 minutes Saints got caught flat at the back, in truth Matt Targett should have cleared but he scuffed his clearance and Sterling put the game beyond Saints.
As I said I don't think Saints played badly, but I do think we need to shoot a little bit more, as Coutinho showed you have to have a bit of flare sometimes and we seem to lack the confidence to shoot as the moment too many times we want an extra pass and try to walk the ball into the net so to speak, we need to have a go a bit more .
This was a bad day at the office, it doesn't end our Champions League hopes it just makes it a little bit more difficult.
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