Liverpool moved back up to third in the Premier League on Sunday – but their top four challenge has taken a stumble.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were unable to break Southampton down yet again, making it the fourth time this season that they have come away from a match against the Saints having failed to score.
The best opportunity to break that duck came midway through the second half when Jack Stephens’ handball in the box gifted Liverpool a penalty. James Milner, normally so reliable from the spot, missed for the first time out of eight this season (his first miss since 2009) and the home side had to settle for a point.
32 – Liverpool had 32 shots against Southampton in the Premier League this season without scoring. Blunt. pic.twitter.com/9OjWYMKBcp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2017
1 – James Milner has failed to score a Premier League penalty for the first time since November 2009 for Aston Villa vs Bolton. Denied.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2017
This latest failure to collect all three continues a worrying trend for Klopp. Although they have won all of their last three way games, they have collected just two points from their last three at home – against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and now Southampton.
Although they will still be favourites to nab a top-four spot in the league ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal, the result of the meeting of those two on Sunday afternoon could have a major bearing on Liverpool’s comfort level heading into their final two fixtures.
In any event, Liverpool fans see this as a case of two points dropped at a critical point of the season:
2 points from 3 home games in a row, against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Southampton.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 7, 2017
Must win game for Champions League qualification. 36th game of season. At home. Crowd dead. Team dead. Why?
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) May 7, 2017
FT: #LFC 0 Saints: 0: Milner’s missed penalty so costly but Reds didn’t do enough. Way off the pace today.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) May 7, 2017
Klopp talked all week about the fans turning up and doing their job, but it was the players who failed to turn up today. Way off the pace.
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 7, 2017
Fuming .. wish i didnt care about football but wow … way to go LFC
— Anton Hysén (@antonhysenoffic) May 7, 2017
360 minutes played against Southampton this season without scoring.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 7, 2017
Liverpool’s push for top four as the season nears its conclusion… pic.twitter.com/79OauakZY9
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) May 7, 2017
James Milner’s first ever penalty miss for #lfc, Forster’s first ever penalty save in the Premier League.
Liverpool FC, Ladies & Gents.
— Ben (@LFC_NEW5) May 7, 2017
We. Bottle. It. Every. Single. Time. It. Matters. And. It. Does. My. Absolute. Head. In.
I’m so annoyed. #LFC
— Anfield Bond (@AnfieldBond) May 7, 2017
Klopp will have to pick his players up for the final two league matches against West Ham and Middlesbrough. Victory in both, along with Man United failing to earn maximum points in their fixtures, will guarantee the Reds will be back in the Champions League for the first time since 2014.
Read More About: claude puel, james milner, jurgen klopp, Liverpool, Premier League, southampton
