Summary

  • Liverpool nine points off fourth-placed Leicester

  • Mane opens scoring

  • Jurgen Klopp one short of 100 wins at Anfield

  • Southampton won reverse fixture in January

  1. Bye!published at 22:55 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    I'm off to bed.

    Match of the Day is still on over on BBC One. The Football Daily podcast is here.

    We've got another four games tomorrow, kicking off with Wolves v Brighton at midday.

    See you then!

  2. 'Final action was not clinical'published at 22:53 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl speaking to Sky Sports: "We had maybe the bigger chances as we had a few one-on-ones, the biggest from Che Adams at the end to get the equaliser. We showed some good, great football and kept the game open until we conceded the second goal. When you don't take the chances...

    "It's always both. On the one side there is a goalkeeper who you know is good but when you are one-on-one in front of him it can be more difficult some times. In the end we cannot take something from it.

    "We played through the lines and had some good counter-attacks. It was a good balance in the game. We tried to be brave and took a lot of risks. We very often played out but the final action or finish was not clinical enough to take something."

  3. 'We do it for the people'published at 22:50 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    More from Jurgen Klopp on Sadio Mane and Thiago scoring: "Very important. They probably needed it really so yes, massive."

    On having fans back: "My english is not good enough. I cannot express it, really. It's so difficult in these moments without them. I always understand football as we do it for the people. It's why I wanted to be a professional footballer so people could see it. Yes, we have one home game and we play at Burnley with supporters too which will be tricky but I really hope next season we have fans back in the stadiums again."

    On top four: "We play on Thursday [against] Manchester United. It's not good for them to play lots, it's crazy, I really don't understand that. All the teams have targets. We will have pressure for as long as we win as that means we have something to fight for. If not, we don't."

  4. 'We controlled it better'published at 22:49 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to Sky Sports: "It was good. It was a tough game. We knew that before. We had to work hard. We did that and scored a really nice first goal. They had their moments in counter-attacking situations but Alisson made a really good save in the first half and kept us in the game.

    "In the second half it was another big shift because they go and go and don't give up. We closed the game. We haven't had that all the time this season.

    "I liked our switches. They were maybe not cheeky but brave and good. We told Rhys Williams he has a good long ball so use that from time to time. We had these moments. Alisson plays the ball to their feet and we think 'oh, what was that?' but he makes a good save and they didn't score in that moment so all good!

    "I thought we controlled it better tonight. It was hard for us and for Southampton as well. It's all about set-pieces and who can do jobs as they are much taller than us. There were a lot of things. We won the game so that's all that counts."

  5. 'We are better than the results we've had'published at 22:45 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl speaking to BBC Sport: "The difference today was that they scored and we didn't. I think we maybe had more chances - clear chances - than they did.

    "How we wanted to play was OK. We created good chances, we tried to build up through the lines and we were brave, as you have to be against a big side. We were cool until the final third and there the coolness was gone. This is what you need to have against such a team.

    "We had the chances. They are not in a comfort zone like they have been and it was a chance to get something. The whole second half of the season we have the issue that we are better than the results we have.

    "We have three home games now. Hopefully [Danny] Ings is back, we will look at who is fresh and go again."

  6. 'Top four is not impossible'published at 22:43 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp speaking to BBC Sport: "We knew before [it would be tough]. The only way I know on winning is to work really hard and that's what we did tonight.

    "They are well organised and have an intense style of play. They had their moments. We set up their biggest chance ourselves but we deserved the three points. We scored a really nice first goal but it's familiar for us now to not finish the game early so we had to stay in the game and scoring a wonderful second goal obviously was a big relief. We had to fight, we got the three points, really good."

    On being in the race for the top four: "We are kind of. It's not impossible but it's difficult. We will give it a try and see where we get to."

  7. Postpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    The Southampton squad must be watching Match of the Day in the changing rooms.

    We will hear from them... Eventually.

  8. 'There are small chances'published at 22:40 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    Liverpool midfielder Thiago to BBC Sport: "The most important thing is the three points. We dominated the game and created a lot. If you can help with a goal it's more than welcome.

    "We kept pushing forward and tried to control the game. But they are a quality team and can still create chances."

    On Liverpool's top four hopes: "There are small chances. We are realistic with our situation. It is what it is and our focus is the next game against Manchester United."

  9. 'We can't have more slip-ups'published at 22:37 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    More from Andy Robertson on top four race: "When the door has been open we've not walked through it. It's out of our hands. Leicester are in fourth now. When [the other teams] do slip up, we need to be there to capitalise on that. We've not been good enough on that so far this season. We can't have any more slip-ups."

    On missing the fans: "Fans are everything in football. Over the last couple of weeks that's been heightened even more. To have them back in will be a huge boost. Really looking forward to having them back."

  10. 'We need to use it now'published at 22:35 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    Liverpool's Andy Robertson to Sky Sports: "I thought it was a good performance. When you're in this kind of run of form where we have conceded late goals, it's about grinding out results. I thought for most part the performance was really good. Luckily Alisson made a few important saves but we kept the ball well and I thought we deserved the three points.

    "We need to use it now. We have four big games and we need to keep pushing the teams above us. We'll see where we end up. I felt confident going into the last 10 minutes. We saw the game out a lot better. We didn't really allow Southampton to push. I felt comfortable but you're right, from recent history, anything can happen just now. So it was important to get a win and a clean sheet.

    "Creating chances haven't been a problem it's just been that final bit putting it away. We've not taken enough chances. When you keep missing them, teams get confidence from that. We are creating. Today we were clinical. Really important win, solid performance and now we move on to Thursday."

  11. Postpublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    BBC One

    Match of the Day has just started. Throw on BBC One for all the highlights.

  12. Postpublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Still waiting for reaction from both managers.

    Here's the match report in the meantime.

  13. 'Fighting for small miracle'published at 22:21 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Liverpool

    Liverpool's Thiago speaking to Sky Sports: "I always try to bring out the reality. Of course we are not happy with the situation but we are happy with the win. It is always a great moment when you score to help the team. We have to keep fighting until the end with this small chance.

    "It is an amazing feeling [to score] but the most important thing is the three points. We keep fighting for a small miracle.

    "We try to bring our football, not just the intensity without the ball but with it, we try to bring that. I know I am not a goalscorer but I am trying always to be near the area to make the last pass or shoot. It is very special of course.

    "For a lot of us, we have the privilege to play this amazing sport and in these amazing stadiums so we have to be glad of our situation and enjoy it for the fans.

    "I think we had chances in the past that didn't always go for us but the window is open so we try to go through the window."

  14. Postpublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Thiago became the 140th player to score a Premier League goal for Liverpool, and the first whose first goal came from outside the box since Divock Origi in December 2015.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  15. How the table lookspublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Here's how things stand at the end of play in the European spots.

    Chelsea moved up to third with their win over Manchester City, delaying their title celebrations.

    Leicester dropped into fourth after their defeat to Newcastle last night and Liverpool move above Spurs, who lost to Leeds United this morning.

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  16. Postpublished at 22:08 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    FT: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Jurgen Klopp also picks up his 100th win at Anfield as Liverpool manager.

    He has big hugs for Thiago, Andy Robertson and Rhys Williams.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  17. FULL-TIMEpublished at 22:07 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    A win and a clean sheet at home for Liverpool, who move above Tottenham into sixth place.

    They sit six points off Leicester in fourth.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 90+3 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Southampton

    Curtis Jones is on for a few minutes. Sadio Mane goes off on the far side.

  19. goal

    GOAL - Liverpool 2-0 Southamptonpublished at 90 mins

    Thiago

    Job done!

    Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane rob it off Kyle Walker-Peters near the touchline.

    Firmino tees up Thiago and he slots it straight into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

    That's his first Liverpool goal and it looks set to tie-up an important three points.

  20. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Liverpool 1-0 Southampton

    Four minutes added on.