Was this a poor performance of a well earned hard fought game where we deserved a point, the Saints fans at the game couldn't work out which.

Liverpool fans after the game would point to 65% possession for their team and the fact that Saints did not manage one shot on target during the entire game, something that we also failed to do in the home game at St Mary's which ended with the same scoreline.

Some would say that this was a masterful stroke of tactical genius of Claude Puel who put out a side who allowed Liverpool to come on to them, gave them no width and dealt with it comfortably.

Puel had clearly watched other teams who had come to Anfield and come away with at least a point and decided that the teams who came to play football and try to win the game often came unstuck, whereas those who got men behind the ball and kept it tight prospered.

The Frenchman won't find many admirers on the Kop though, their view was of a manager who was in the mould of Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce.

That would not be completely fair, in many ways it was an attacking side, but the truth is we just did not attack enough and even when we did we rarely seemed to do so with any real conviction.

Manolo Gabbiadini ran his socks off up front as did Shane Long when he replaced him, but we just could not give either of them the ball in any meaningful position.

The game plan was based on the work rate of the central midfield trio who had wave after wave of Red shirts bearing down on them, the job was to protect the centre of our defence and not let them run at us.

This meant that although Liverpool had 17 shots with 8 on target, most were tame efforts from distance that Fraser Forster dealt with easily.

But we also were almost architects of our own downfall and again both of the games moments of excitement came from a lack of concentration.

Generally at the back we were tight, but it is the lack of concentration that lets us down, the first was the penalty, we got caught dozing and all of a sudden it was panic with Jack Stephens clearly moving his arm to change the direction of the ball, a harsh penalty given that it was so high on his arm, but your arm is handball and Stephens clearly moved his arm towards the ball.

Fraser Forster's penalty save was top drawer and the keeper would be called into action once more to save his side.

In the final minute of the game Forster produced a superb reaction save to keep out Grujic's header, but you have to ask why the Liverpool man had a free header from close range, watch the TV replays and decide for yourself why, either way it was a lack of concentration that caught us out and nearly cost us a point that we had worked hard for.

My feeling though was that although it was a good point and one that we needed badly given the congestion in the Premier League table, we were a side who know that we have a weakness in defence and therefore know we need to protect it.

This means we are afraid to commit men going forward and that means that few of our attacks have much conviction, it leaves Gabbiadini isolated and rarely with any support, we seem to have to keep 8 men behind the ball at all times even when we are approaching their penalty area, there are no runners from midfield, they are understrict instructions to keep it tight and not get caught.

Even at set pieces we have little menace, our central defenders are not big enough to pose too much threat at corners etc, and we have little height elsewhere.

This game perhaps epitomises the season, we have a good squad, but we are punching well below our weight, part of it is injury driven, part is the central defensive problem and this clean sheet should not paper over those cracks, i have tried to not criticise either Yoshida or Stephens in this game, but the fact remains that we would not be happy with Les Reed next season if either were our first choice in this position, part is also the fact that we just cannot get any momentum going and that is down to selection.

The fact that we can be so comfortable in games yet still almost throw them away shows we are a good side, but something is still wrong.

I don't blame Puel for the way we played on Sunday, we had to do it otherwise they could have murdered us, but we really should not have been in this position, if we had dealt with the central defensive problem in January and not gambled on no injuries to Van Dijk then this game and indeed this season could have been a lot different.

I cannot remember being less enthusiastic about a game than this one, even at the end when the final whistle went, I felt no real euphoria ( No Scouser jokes please) I felt more a feeling of what should have been.

That is not all Claude Puel's fault, perhaps he feels the same way, if the central defensive issue had been dealt with in January then perhaps we would have won this game, certainly we would have been strong enough to try to, perhaps we would have won the EFL Cup and perhaps we might even have taken on Everton for 7th place, the fact that we could still finish 8th shows how close we are to that, but fate and poor management both on and off the pitch has cost us dearly.

That's life though, you have to take the rough with the smooth, but I can't hide the fact that we are a top 7 side that is still in the top 10 despite the fact that for the best part of the season it has played like a bottom 3 one.

Photo: Action Images

saintmark1976 added 11:31 - May 8 Nick I will probably get slaughtered by yourself and others but here goes. We went to Anfield,played Liverpool who are a top four side, put in a good professional performance and came away with a point. Where's the problem with that? The players were clearly " up for it". They supported each other and got stuck in and there was no evidence of discontent with each other or with the manager. Where's the problem with that? For the second game running the defence, yes including the much maligned Yoshida and Stephens kept a clean sheat. Where's the problem with that? We are back in the top ten with a game or in some cases two games in hand. Where's the problem with that? This season we played in a cup final at Wembley and were unfortunate to lose. Where's the problem with that? Honestly Nick, just lately your reports are so negative. Please try and cheer up a little.

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SanMarco added 11:44 - May 8 Great article - sums up the bewilderment us Saints fans are feeling at the moment. When I walked out of Walsall in the peeing rain after a 1-0 defeat just six years ago I would have laughed at the idea of being disappointed after a 0-0 at Liverpool, but, as many national reports have mentioned something is not right. Did we have a shot at all, let alone one on target? And the two careless CB moments should have cost us (and well done Forster, he has not been great at times this season but that was excellent). The media are lumping us in with Palace, Bournemouth and Swansea who all got results there and scored goals as well. It is difficult to argue with that after yesterday. The two main players responsible for getting us forward, Boufal and Tadic are simply not up to it. I would have played Long and Clasie. At least then we would have, on the rare occasions we broke, looked dangerous. I suspect Puel will stay and that will mean another summer of turmoil - along with a Tory landslide - beam me up Scotty....

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Saintsfc added 12:23 - May 8 Maybe it's just me, of course results are important, but in my opinion football is a game.. I wish more managers and fans took La Ligas view on football. Clearly some people are happy though spending 40£ a week to watch boring football if it gets a point. Not me.
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carolinasaint added 12:33 - May 8 My thoughts exactly, Nick. Yes, it's a good point. No, I can't blame Puel for the tactics; it's been clearly shown that to get a result against Klopp and his charges you're better off playing "negative" football. And the team did put in a good shift--we didn't ride our luck so much as kept them from creating any really dangerous chances other than that late header. That said, I just couldn't help but thinking that in previous years we'd've had a proper go at them. It didn't always work out, but I always felt like we were happy to play our own game and very often put a scare into the top six clubs, even coming away with quite a few deserved victories. Made me proud to be a Saints fan. Now...well, our tactics were befitting of a club in the bottom three. Like I said, I understand, but I miss the way we played under Poch and Koeman.

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pete_boggs added 12:46 - May 8 Saints Mark? San Marco? Couple of Les Reed positive spin plants by the sound of it. Diabolical game, like having teeth pulled. Are we in a relegation zone? Is that why we played like potential losers? I thought we were a few places off Liverpool. Liverpool without Mane yesterday were no better than Saints, we could have played them like men and come away with a bit of pride. I would rather have lost 2 or 3-0 than watch that boring turgid nonsense. And if we can suddenly defend like that how come we didn't get these sort of results against the top teams earlier in the season and get a few more points on the board? Under Puel we are schizophrenic. We don't know who we are or what the plan is. Nick is spot on again.

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Hugh_Jarce added 12:56 - May 8 Good professional performance but one that will drive fans away if it continues. Think Stephens and Yoshi did ok. Buffoon again proved he has skill but is useless.
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SaintBrock added 13:19 - May 8 The ends justify the means? Not in my book. We'd condemn any club that came here and did that to us and rightly so. Football used to be entertainment now only the result matters it seems. Deadline looming for STs still no renewal from me, never felt so apathetic. This was just salt in the wounds. It's more fun making trip to the recycling centre.
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simmo400 added 13:19 - May 8 Liverpool were poor yesterday and we could not get a chance on target the same as Hull before. Yes a deserved point but where is our offence ? Boufal is he 16 million ??? guy was a joke this and last week. Redmond should start in front of him. Gabbadidni should stay on and Long on with him this one up front is poor as we aint got the midfield to support him. " up front rest of the season please and go for 4 wins least the fans deserve.

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halftimeorange added 13:30 - May 8 Will Saints score another goal this season? Doesn't look like it. Boufal and JWP were anonymous. Being charitable, I suppose Boufal might improve after another season but, in the EPL, we can't afford passengers. Although much has been made of our centre back frailties what we are really lacking is a playmaker. Not an easy role to fill without spending really big money. We certainly seem unable to open up the opposition and that has been throughout the whole season. Liverpool failed to win this game as much through playing too narrow as our resilience. That said, Forster showed why we bought him and both FBs , Davis and Romeu all worked hard. Maybe the players awards evening reminded them they are a team.

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SanMarco added 13:31 - May 8 pete boggs - I am desperate to know what I said that makes me a ' Les Reed positive spin plant'. Did you only read my first five lines?
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GeordieSaint added 13:33 - May 8 A great defensive performance but I wish we had tried to score a goal. I can understand why Puel is surprised at the criticism but that was terrible to watch. Should have been more positive and tried to win the game, a good point but that is not entertainment, especially as we are already safe.
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LordDZLucan added 13:52 - May 8 This is a difficult one. Taking the game in isolation you would say that going to Anfield and EASILY getting a point is positive. But, it is difficult to see where the goals are going to come from. The crosses into the box were generally poor giving Gabbiadini nothing to feed off. Also, we're not winning our share of the 50/50 balls. We must strengthen the midfield next season if we're going to sort this out.

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pete_boggs added 13:55 - May 8 San Marco I take that back mate didn't read it properly. Just beside meself and seething at this endless nonsense from this football club.
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ItchenNorth added 13:56 - May 8 For all the criticism in recent weeks I thought Boufal played well Sunday, tracking back and supporting the full backs well. This wasn’t a game for ‘going for it’, we would have been ripped apart. Liverpool looked poor because we made then look poor. Puel would have directed Tadic and Boufal to focus on defensive cover in the early part of the game and then hope that as the game progressed we could push up a bit more and support Gabbi. Our plan was to sit deep and hope for a moment of quality from Gabbi to grab us the points. It wasn’t to be, but Puel got it pretty much spot on for me. In the last part of the game he gambled a bit more as Liverpool looked lacklustre and brought on Long and Redmond to try and create a more of a counter attack to our game. This opened the game up somewhat for Liverpool and we had Forster to thank for keeping us in it. Another clean sheet though and Romeu was again top draw. Now that's all well and good away from home against a top 4 team, but at St Marys we need to get the balance right and be a little be more attacking minded. However considering that Puel has never managed outside of France before this year, he’s doing a pretty good job (even if we want more exciting football long term). He’s steering Saints to a comfortable mid table position. The summer will be the key. He’ll know that the CB position need strengthening, with or without VVD at the club next season and then as Nick suggest: we can begin to start playing a more offensive style of football in more games that we are seeing at present.

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saintpp added 14:12 - May 8 Great defensive performance admired by the pundits and we messed up Klopp lalana and lovrens chances of 2nd place. Not a game for the neutral admitadly but i enjoyed it we were never really hanging on we contained one of the top scoring sides.Those who complan about entertainement are the same ones complaining about lack of points and sliding down the table well that point puts us with a chance of 8th by beating arsenal.And will the Boufal haters give the guy a break next season we will see the best of him.

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SaintNick added 14:16 - May 8 SaintMark, I have no problem with the result, you are right"on the face of it" this was a good point, but anyone who watched the game knows the real side of the story. In my verdict I gave both sides of the story as to why Puel played like that and why we could have done things differently, but last few games have taught us that we leak too many goals at the back, so we cant commit too many forward, we are poor defending breakaways and crosses into the box. Each game now seems to be balanced on whether the opposition score from our lapses in concentration in leaving people unmarked as City and Chelsea did or whether they don't take advantage as Bournemouth, Palace and Liverpool didnt. This is the crux of the matter, in all of the games we took points from we could have easily lost due to poor defending. If we had a fit Van Dijk it would be different, if we had Van Dijk alongside a genuinely Premier class central defender then I think we would be looking at 6th or 7th this season. Our defence lies too much on luck than judgement. If that penalty had not been saved and e had lost then social media would be in meltdown today, no one would be saying that this was a great 1-0 loss

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saintmark1976 added 14:22 - May 8 Pete-Boggs. Not quite sure what a Les Reed positive spin plant actually is, but in any event thanks for your comment. If,as you say in your reply to San Marco you are " beside meself and seething " then may I suggest and with great respect,following the Saints may ultimately be bad for your health.
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BoondockSaint added 14:33 - May 8 With the team we have this was a good result: a point for us and making them drop two. Shows what different team they are when they don't have Mane to score or stretch the field for others.
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arthurfane added 14:52 - May 8 A point at Anfield is never one to be scoffed at. Looking at the positives, the team clearly executed Puel's game plan to perfection, shutting out a dangerous, attacking team, and Forster looked back to his best; two excellent saves from him, and he looked a lot more confident. As others have mentioned though, it's hugely frustrating that when we take on the big sides these days, we don't have a go at them. Gone are the days where we shock the likes of Arsenal and Man City with lovely counter attacking football leading to thumping victories and the euphoria that this team are capable of competing with the very best. Shutting up shop and playing for a 0-0 draw is not why we watch football. Having heard Puel say we 'executed our plan to perfection' my motivation for heading to St.Mary's on Wednesday has waned as I know we'll probably look for the exact same result. The excitement just isn't there at all any more. I feel genuinely sorry for Gabbiadini - what a striker he is, but he's not goalless for the last 5 games. Can you think of a genuine opportunity he's had in that time? I can't, and that's simply because the team doesn't create anything these days. Really hope we shed the chains against Arsenal. We're at home, and they've had a difficult season. I'd much rather us go for victory and lose 2-3 than witness another 0-0 bore draw.

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arthurfane added 14:53 - May 8 *not scored
0

Jesus_02 added 15:13 - May 8 Two/Three years ago it felt like we could beat anyone. That felt like a decent shift and decent clean sheet from a team that makes up the numbers.
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heroholmes1 added 15:58 - May 8 So everyone want to be entertained by flair players other than Tadic and Boufal? This is exactly how we should play at Liverpool, would you rather go end to end and lose 5-1 It was OK in the cup semi final. At home is a completely different matter, I don't think the manager can / wants to change the system much to suite the circumstances. Shane Long has really suffered with this manager and looks a Championship player, I feel we need a player in each of the central positions this Summer.

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deanosfc8 added 16:08 - May 8 Liverpool are very poor team without Mane, this was an opportunity for Puel to shut the doubters up with a lets have a go & beat'um attitude, but this performance isn't going to win anybody over. Even the Arsenal game is struggling to sell out! that for me says it all Zzz zzz zz z
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SaintPaulVW added 16:19 - May 8 Love it. We don't score so it's actually Yoshi and Stephens to blame. Errr, no it isn't. Great performance from the defence in going to get a point away from home. Just wish our strikers and midfield could link up a bit better. We seem to over rely on individual form up front rather than playing as a team. When that isn't there we struggle.
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 16:34 - May 8 I think Puel played ultra-defensive because he knew if Yoshida and Stephens were exposed then we would concede. He essentially put 3 defensive midfielders sat in front of the defence, and our wingers spent most of their time in their own half tracking Liverpool’s full backs. Maybe if we had a more trusted CB partnership like Fonte and Van Dijk then Puel would’ve been able to push more midfielders into more attacking roles, without the fear of us giving away cheap goals. It was a dreadful game to watch though. We had absolutely nothing going forward. Completely the wrong game for Gabbiadini. We needed a Pelle or Lambert type to hold the ball up. Maybe even Long would’ve been better to start, chasing the hopeless long balls and punts up field. On the subject of Boufal, the guy has huge potential, he’s really gifted. He constantly beats players with ease and that is hard to find at Premiership level. The trouble is he has no idea of what he should do at any one time. Like when to keep it simple, or when to try to beat a man, or when to look for that killer pass. His decision making is really poor, he’s got a lot to learn! But the club will work on that and when he’s up to speed he could be brilliant.

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