So, In a nutshell...
For the first ten minutes of the match Liverpool were all over Southampton. Their confident passing and attacking outlook totally overwhelmed the Saints midfield and defence. The result was a barrage of attempts on Paul Jones goal. After four great saves Jones was finally beaten after 10 minutes. Jones deflected a Hamman effort only to see it fall to Michael Owen who got in front of Paul Williams to put it into the net.
Liverpool continued to dominate play but this lessened as the half wore on, with Saints starting to settle into the match and gain the upper hand for the last ten minutes or so.
A rocket at half time from Gordon Strachan saw a much improved Saints side in the second half. Saints took the game to Liverpool and got a deserved equaliser from Kevin Davies. An impressive run from Chris Marsden saw him beat the Liverpool defence for pace. In the scramble that followed in the Liverpool box, the ball was hit out to Kevin Davies who knocked it in first time. Davies has been out of first team reckoning for some time and it's hoped that this goal will spark him into a return to form. He should have every opportunity to impress with Beattie and Ormerod still injured.
As the game went on Saints began to push forward for the winner, Anders Svensson coming closest with a great effort coming off the bar. Chris Marsden also had a header saved by Dudek.
Of the Saints players, they really played well to a man. Jones saved Saints form a rout in those first 10 minutes; Dodd & Bridge were solid with some nice passes from Bridge; Lundekvam and Williams were solid in the centre and look to have formed a formidable partnership; Telfer's crosses were poor but again his workrate and general play have made a big difference to Saints midfield; Marsden was his usual self, hard working, determined and able to marshall the ball around despite supposedly "quality players" in the opposition side; Svensson looked threatening in attack; Pahars did well considering the Liverpool defence were trying to deprive him of his legs for ninety minutes and Davies who got the equaliser but still looked a little out of sorts.
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