The opening game at Anfield as Liverpool host Southampton. Or as some are saying Southampton vs Southampton as Liverpool have acquired some of the Saints' best players last season in Lallana, Lovren and Lambert.
It was a summer that the Southampton fans want to get over as quickly as possible as when their previous manager Pochettino left, it seemed to have rocked their ship as it opened the doors to a player exodus with a number a first team players leaving shortly afterwards. So this season they are wanting results to come in quickly to give their fans reassurance that all is still well at the club.
Liverpool on the other hand are hoping to build from their successful, yet trophy-less season with their place back in the champions league secure and new additions to their squad. Is this year 'their year'? A saying that is starting to sound like a never ending echo. They have though lost their player of the season in Suarez, who had finally got his wish in a move to Barcelona. With this they are wanting to prove that they are not a one man team.
The game wasn't what we all had expected. We were all presuming that this would be a walk in the park for Liverpool but their performance was a little limp. It had started with promise in the opening 30 minutes which was rewarded with an opening goal. From their though it became stale. Plus it wasn't helped by a quick evolving Southampton side who were growing in confidence with every minute played. It was clear to see that if Liverpool could not find another goal then the second half could possibly end up with another surprising result.
There was an uncertainty about how Liverpool approached the second half and as they entered the final third there was a lack of ideas. Surely they were not reliant on one man? That's not what they want us, or their fans to believe. But their lack of 'a target man', that someone pull something out the bag was missing. Southampton though were contributing to this frustration. They pressed, turned more attack minded and became the more dominant team of the two. A confident build up led to their equaliser and very nearly the lead shortly afterwards.
Liverpool finished the game as winners, less than convincing it had to be said. But it is these result that all teams want, need. Play bad, still win. Southampton will feel hard done by. They put in a confident shift, but that glorious chance for Davies would have given this game a completely different outcome. Time will tell, for both teams. Southampton looking to cement their premier league status, Liverpool back in Champions League, can they still be a title contender?
