The return of Philippe Coutinho is the only positive for Liverpool on a night when Southampton’s EFL Cup profligacy might well come back to haunt them.
Southampton 1 Liverpool 0
Nathan Redmond (5.8) made the difference but could have made so much more, as Southampton failed to put away a listless Liverpool at St Mary’s in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
The visitors managed only two shots on target from 68% of the possession, while Redmond alone had five goal scoring chances to make the second leg at Anfield considerably more comfortable than it is likely to be now.
The midfielder did at least convert one of those opportunities, finishing smartly from a Jay Rodriguez (6.3) pass, and was perhaps unlucky to see a late effort hit the bar.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had a major consolation prize to soften the blow of defeat as Philippe Coutinho (8.2) returned after a month and a half out injured. The Brazilian was given a 30-minute cameo and immediately rejuvenated a Reds attack in which Roberto Firmino (8.5) and Daniel Sturridge (9.7) were toothless.
Firmino has struggled hugely during his compatriot’s absence, scoring just once, losing close to a quarter of a million Fantasy managers and dropping 0.3 in value. The 11.6% who have stood by him will now hope for a return to the form – and “false 9 role” – that harvested five goals and as many assists in the first 11 Gameweeks of the season.
Coutinho is still found in 14.7% of Fantasy squads, but he may well be eased back into action just as Liverpool face a mixed bag of upcoming fixtures, with tough matches against Man United, Chelsea and Spurs tempered by a trip to Hull City and the visit of Swansea City.
The Reds also have an FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle to resolve on January 18.
Jurgen Klopp made eight changes to his weekend side, Claude Puel seven to his, with only Maya Yoshida (4.2), Virgil van Dijk (5.8), Ryan Bertrand (5.4) and Dusan Tadic (7.0) remaining from the Saints team that drew with Norwich.
Yoshida has now started the last four matches across all competitions and, with club skipper Jose Fonte (5.4) looking for an exit over the January transfer window, the Japan international could be one to consider over a relatively attractive run that involves trips to Burnley, Swansea and Sunderland and home matches with Leicester and West Ham.
However, Puel will surely be prioritising a replacement for Fonte should the defender be allowed to leave the club.
Elsewhere, continued rotation looks inevitable in the Saints’ squad as the fixtures continue to pile up. As well as their league commitments, they will have to replay against Norwich City on Wednesday (January 18) before the second leg of their Liverpool tie a week later and a potential FA Cup fourth round tie just three days after that.
For now, though, last night’s result gives them a slight advantage as they look to book a place at Wembley.
Clearly, the outcome of that second leg at Anfield will have major repercussions for FPL managers.
Should the Saints prevail and clinch a place in the final, their Gameweek 26 clash against Arsenal would need rescheduling and would almost certainly be moved to another Gameweek – something to consider for the 36.5% of FPL managers currently holding Alexis Sanchez (£11.9m).
If Liverpool can overcome that deficit, though, their Gameweek 26 trip to Leicester City would require rescheduling instead.
Southampton XI: Forster, Cedric, van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand, Clasie (Hojbjerg 73), Romeu, Davis (Ward-Prowse 82), Tadic, Redmond, Rodriguez (Long 82).
Subs not used: Lewis, Stephens, McQueen, Sims.
Liverpool XI: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum (Coutinho 61), Lallana, Firmino (Origi 83), Sturridge.
Subs not used: Mignolet, Gomez, Moreno, Stewart, Woodburn.
