Southampton vs. Liverpool: *Bumper* Post-Match Analysis

Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, so the article received via email is unlikely to be the final version. There's statistics from the match and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

What a game to end the season on: a microcosm of Liverpool's great attacking and absent-minded (or just absent) midfield defending; of a group of capable backup players who, on their own, can keep standards high when they drop into a strong XI, but as a group, lacked pace and in some cases, made the team too old.

Still, it was a dead-rubber and an eight-goal thriller. And until the second half substitutions, it felt like two teams who wanted a flowing game, not the anti-football of Newcastle, and of Aston Villa and Brentford in recent visits to Anfield.

The good news was that the team has already mostly been reborn and reshaped, and now, only new midfielders need apply, with maybe some defensive reinforcements. Trent Alexander-Arnold, strangely deep and playing Southampton onside for their first goal, was otherwise a majestic force. His increased energy, pace and power has him able to pop up in three positions at once.

Curtis Jones, a star of late at the ripe old age of 22, was under par, but Harvey Elliott, 20, and Cody Gakpo, 23, shone very brightly as subs. (Let's also not forget one of the best players of the season at the time he was playing, 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic, when thinking ahead to next season.)

Diogo Jota, 26, remains easily on the right side of 30. Alexander-Arnold, 24, ran the show, from Lake Geneva to the Finland Station.

And someone older, Roberto Firmino, got a farewell goal. Obviously he put about six defenders on their backsides in the process; just because he could.

Lots to discuss, about a strange game on a strange day after a strange season, that I think is over for some players, but goes on for another six months of international football or some other bullshit.

The remaining three-quarters of my comments and those of the others follow for subscribers only.