EPL MD 17: Ings early goal sinks Liverpool; Southampton 1- 0 Liverpool
Danny Ings scored against his former side in the 2-minute o the game.
soireenews 
A wretched performance cost Liverpool a point at the Saint Mary’s when Danny Ings second minute sank the Champions who still top the Premier League table.
How the three points were earned ????
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 4, 2021
The key numbers, presented by @eToro: pic.twitter.com/ev18t0RfNE
Manchester United have a game in hand against Burnley and a win at the Turf Moor moves them top before facing the Reds at Anfield.
The loss means Liverpool have taken five points from Brighton, Fulham, West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton and Aston Villa.
Thiago gave away a cheap early free-kick in midfield, which Ward-Prowse delivered from deep to the left of the box. Alexander-Arnold made a hash of it and allowed Ings to take the ball from a tight angle. He caught out Allison totally with a hooked finish into the far corner.
The Reds dominated the game onwards and kept the ball forward - Salah and Mane worked it into the box for a huge opportunity but a heavy touch on Firmino let him down, and Ward-Prowse cleared.
Robertson later aimed a cross towards Mane which was cleared away by Bednarek.
The Reds kept the pressure, but left Forster free, failing to hit the target as at the 23-minute.
Southampton came close four minutes to end the first half when Ings beat Henderson in the air to find the youngster, who took advantage of Fabinho's slip to turn inside and bend an effort just past Allison's left-hand post.
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The second half was engineered by the Reds, and they pressed Southampton for the equalizer. The Saints did a great job on Thiago and made it difficult for him to locate forwards with passes.
Liverpool were denied a penalty by VAR when Wijnaldum shot on the turn struck a diving Stephens on the arm, but Andre Marriner only pointed for a corner.
Southampton absorbed the Liverpool pressure and took the Reds on the break yet Fabinho and Henderson were there to nullify the threats. In the 75-minute, the Reds registered a shot on target when Mane took a ball in his stride before scuffing it into Forster's grasp.
Southampton gave everything to preserve the only goal after several attempts by the Reds.
The game ended 1-0 as Southampton move up to sixth, level on points again with Manchester City, and only four behind Liverpool.
