Liverpool narrowly bends backlog: blood-curdling final day follows


Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 10:40 PM• Tim Cozijnsen • Last update: 23:06

Liverpool have kept the title fight alive with a win over Southampton. Jürgen Klopp’s team fell behind early in the game on Tuesday evening with a goal from Nathan Redmond, after which Takumi Minamino leveled the score and Joël Matip helped the visitors to a victory: 1-2. Manchester City thus defends a lead of one point on the last day of play in the Premier League. The Citizens receive a visit from Aston Villa on Sunday. Liverpool will receive Wolverhampton Wanderers that same day.

Compared to last Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, Klopp had made relatively many changes to his team. In addition to the injured Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Thiago were missing from the selection. The German coach had made a base for Harvey Elliott, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Firmino, among others. Minamino, who was loaned out to Southampton last season, was also allowed to play from the first whistle. Fraser Forster was missing from the home team with a back injury. The goalkeeper was replaced by Alex McCarthy.

Southampton started the game strongly and took the lead after more than ten minutes of play when Redmond scored in an excellent way. Lyanco captured the ball after a solid duel and delivered the ball to Nathan Tella. Redmond then got the ball around the halfway line and steamed towards the penalty area. The midfielder dribbled in and found the far corner behind goalkeeper Alisson Becker with a nice shot: 1-0. Despite fierce protests on the Liverpool side, referee Martin Atkinson approved the goal. Liverpool knew what to do and successfully went in search of the quick equalizer.

After half an hour of play, Diogo Jota put a pass from Gomez with his chest ready for Minimano. The Japanese didn’t hesitate for a moment and knocked McCarthey in the short corner: 1-1. The Reds continued to hunt for goals and a minute later they almost scored again via Minamino, who shot wide. On the stroke of half-time, Klopp suffered a blow when Gomez was injured. The defender’s leg got stuck in a duel with Tella and made an annoying movement. With Jordan Henderson in the squad for the retired Gomez, Liverpool went looking for the lead.

Midway through the second half, Liverpool found the lead. Mohamed Elyounoussi cleared a corner from Konstantinos Tsimikas near the near post and saw the ball land on Matip’s head. With a reflex, the Cameroonian managed to get the ball behind goalkeeper McCarthey: 1-2. Liverpool had what it came for and successfully defended the lead.

No. Team m W G V † Pnt
1 Manchester City 37 28 6 3 72 90
2 Liverpool 37 27 8 2 66 89
3 Chelsea 36 20 10 6 42 70
4 Tottenham Hotspur 37 21 5 11 24 68
5 Arsenal 37 21 3 13 9 66
6 Manchester United 37 16 10 11 1 58
7 West Ham United 37 16 8 13 11 56
8 Wolverhampton W. 37 15 6 16 -3 51
9 Leicester City 36 13 9 14 0 48
10 Brighton & Hove Albion 37 11 15 11 -4 48
11 Brentford 37 13 7 17 -7 46
12 Newcastle United 37 12 10 15 -19 46
13 Crystal Palace 36 10 15 11 4 45
14 Aston Villa 36 13 5 18 -1 44
15 Southampton 37 9 13 15 -21 40
16 Everton 36 10 6 20 -20 36
17 Leeds United 37 8 11 18 -38 35
18 Burnley 36 7 13 16 -18 34
19 Watford 37 6 5 26 -42 23
20 Norwich City 37 5 7 25 -56 22