Liverpool vs. Southampton: Winners and Losers from Premier League

Jurgen Klopp recorded his third successive draw as Liverpool manager, sharing the points with Southampton in Sunday’s prime-time Premier League clash.

Christian Benteke, a half-time introduction, nodded the hosts ahead with a powerful effort midway through the second half, but Sadio Mane bundled an ugly effort over the line two minutes from time to square things up.

The Senegalese attacker was shown a second yellow card moments later after a mistimed tackle, but the Reds couldn’t take advantage of the numerical shift.

"We were the better team," Klopp declared in his post-match press conference, per B/R's Karl Matchett. "They needed a free-kick for their goal. I saw development, but disappointed."

Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.

Winner: Christian Benteke, Liverpool

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Christian Benteke’s only just returned to fitness and was only able to play one half of football, but he made his limited minutes count. A trademark powerful header put Liverpool ahead midway through the second half, with the Belgian outmuscling and outleaping Jose Fonte to plant the ball into the top corner.

Every Reds player will be eager to impress their new manager, and Benteke is no different. He’ll feel the need to make up for lost time, having sustained an injury just before Jurgen Klopp arrived at the club, and he’s made the most of a big first opportunity.

There were other moments when a killer touch was lacking, but it’s undeniable Liverpool found a new lease of attacking life after his introduction, and he tried his utmost to force the win.

Loser: Divock Origi, Liverpool

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If Christian Benteke, the super-sub, is deemed a winner, then the man he replaced, Divock Origi, should be deemed a loser.

The Belgian touched the ball just 13 times in the first half, per WhoScored.com, and none of those were inside the opposition penalty box. He was essentially non-existent in build-up play, and it was no surprise to see Jurgen Klopp roll out Benteke for the second period.

Given the competition for places up front—Daniel Sturridge is due to come back, and Roberto Firmino also made a cameo appearance in this match—Origi simply couldn’t afford to drop a dud this size.

Winner: Lucas Leiva, Liverpool

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Lucas Leiva made his presence felt on Sunday, stomping his way to eight tackles, per WhoScored.com, and dominating in the centre of the park. For long stretches, it was a very ugly game, but that suited Lucas just fine, and he did the dirty work without complaint.

Of particular note was his key headed clearance following a knock-back across goal by Virgil van Dijk, removing the looming danger as Graziano Pelle and Co. hunted for a clear-cut chance on goal.

He saw plenty of the ball, totalling the most touches in the first half of anyone, and used it well.

Loser: Dusan Tadic, Southampton

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Dusan Tadic has been fantastic so far this season, but on Sunday, the things we regularly associate with him—be it inch-perfect killer balls or accurate crosses—seemed distinctly absent.

He, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle combined superbly throughout the first period, but the Serbian’s finesse at the crucial moment was lacking, and the Saints misfired up front as a result. His crossing toward Pelle’s head has rarely been worse, and he got caught on the ball a few times.

Had Tadic brought his A-game, Ronald Koeman’s men could well have taken an early lead. Then what?

Winner: Virgil van Dijk, Southampton

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Virgil van Dijk put in a masterful showing at centre-back at Anfield on Sunday, earning This Is Anfield writer Jack Lusby’s Man of the Match award.

Ever since his horror show against Manchester United and Anthony Martial in September, the Dutchman has put in consistently excellent performances alongside Jose Fonte, and this was another example of one. He dominated aerially, provided a big threat in the opposition box and cleaned up in his own area, too.

Towering in height and overwhelmingly strong—even for a defender—he’s one who will intimidate his fair share in the games to come.

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