Down To The Wire

Juergen Klopp's eyes nearly filled with tears as he once again espoused his young reserve team with words of praise. Once again they had proved him right; once again they had repaid his confidence in them. And once again; they delivered a vital victory that keeps this title race going to the final wire.

Make no mistake: when Nathan Redmond cut in on the vaunted left and scored a stupendous goal; the signs were ominous. It looked like Man City would win the title right there. But as we've seen time & time again; Liverpool don't panic when they go a goal down. With the way they play and chances they create; they are always likely to score a goal.

And so it happened again when their front three combined brilliantly yet again; for Diogo Jota to tee up Takumi Minamino; making his first league start all season; to power his shot past Alex McCarthy at the near post. There was slight fortune when Joel Matip; enjoying a breakthrough season; got his head to score the second from a corner; but the Saints must only look at themselves after a poor clearance from Mohamed Elyounoussi & a strange marking decision that saw the diminutive Kyle Walker-Peters guarding Matip.

Overall; the Saints did well; they have looked at times this season the most in-form team in the league; and they did not disappoint on this occasion; with their centre-back pairing of the seldom-used Lyanco and Jack Stephens particularly resilient. But having made nine changes and with an almost-unrecognisable midfield of James Milner; Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones; Liverpool will surely savour this one.