A tale of Saints and Sinama as shaky ’Pool take the points

Liverpool 1 Southampton 0

But this was nothing like the sort of Liverpool performance that will have Chelsea worried when they arrive at Anfield on Saturday.

Southampton were without soon-to-be sold James Beattie and are still without an away win this season or a victory under new boss Harry Redknapp.

But they made life more than difficult for Liverpool and could easily have snatched something in a second half that was painful to watch for the Kop faithful.

In the midst of all this anxiety and error, Steven Gerrard stood out as the class act he has become at Liverpool. He chased, tackled, harrassed and battled for the cause in an inspirational man-of the match performance.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez will be relieved to have bagged three points from a horrible performance. Michael Owen was back home watching from the stands and how his level of finishing was missing from this display.

Benitez was pleased with his side’s fourth consecutive win - but admitted his players needed more confidence in front of goal to put the game beyond Southampton.

Benitez said: “It was hard work. We controlled the game in the first half but in the second half it is difficult. In the end it was important to win three games in a row. We had some chances at the end of the game and the goalkeeper made some good saves, perhaps we need more confidence when we are up 1-0 ahead.”

Of Gerrard Benitez said: “He’s playing well and has the right mentality to win games, this is important as he is the captain.”

Gerrard paid tribute to the visitors’ efforts but was pleased to earn another three points. He said: “It was a battle. Credit to Southampton because they made it hard for us. Sometimes it’s not about playing well but about getting the points and the boys battled well today and I think they deserved it.

“They made it hard for us and had a lot of men behind the ball but we knew the breakthrough would come if we kept passing the ball. We had to match them in the middle of the park and we did that. Our performances at home have been really good and if we take that into our away games then things are looking good.”

Saints boss Harry Redknapp will be looking to exercise his famous wheeling and dealing skills in next month’s transfer window, with the probable sale of James Beattie the main source of funds. It’s going to be tough, it’s hard to find targets. I’m looking to strengthen in certain areas,” said Redknapp.

“We need to bring a couple of defenders in, a couple of midfield players and maybe even a frontman. We’ve got lots of good kids and a great academy, but we’ve got to make sure we stay in the Premier League this season.”

Redknapp admits it looks almost certain that Beattie will leave the club in January. “In an ideal world you would like to keep him, he is a top goalscorer and we’ll miss him. But we are not in an ideal world and we may have to do a bit of business to bring in a few players, it’s the only way forward for us. There are a few clubs in for him to be truthful.”

Redknapp was full of praise for his side after their brave performance.

“They showed fantastic commitment tonight, they kept going after giving a goal away right on half-time. We pressed and pressed and kept our hopes alive, I couldn’t have asked for more and if they keep working like that we’ll get out of trouble.

“If we work as hard as that week in, week out, we’ll be okay.”

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan (Diao 29), Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Luis Garcia (Hamann 87), Alonso, Gerrard, Warnock, Mellor (Nunez 68), Sinama Pongolle.

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Telfer, Jakobsson, Higginbotham, Cranie, McCann, Prutton, Oakley (Anders Svensson 58), Delap, Ormerod, Blackstock (Phillips 65).

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).