Rush The Kop
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3 awful moments that shaped Liverpool’s embarrassing defeat to Southampton

By Advait Raghunath

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates victory with his assistant manager Richard Kitzbichler as Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts after the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on January 04, 2021 in Southampton, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Adam Davy - Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates victory with his assistant manager Richard Kitzbichler as Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts after the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on January 04, 2021 in Southampton, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Adam Davy - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool
Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

The early Trent Alexander Arnold error

Liverpool conceded a free-kick in a threatening area within two minutes from kick-off and paid the price for it. Set-piece specialist, James Ward-Prowse, placed the ball down and looked set to play the ball in towards the far post where Southampton had their imposing defenders stationed.

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However, this wasn’t to be. Instead of that, the Englishman played a clever ball in behind, which former Red Danny Ings was quick to anticipate. A move straight from the training ground. The goal should never have happened though, and without Trent Alexander Arnold’s mistake, it may not have.

The right-back, who was marking Ings, looked set to clear the ball. Despite being in a perfectly natural position to dispatch the ball away from Liverpool’s box, the number 66 made a rash change in heart and avoided the ball altogether.

Perhaps he didn’t expect Ings to get to the ball quick enough, but even that he should have known, given that the ball wasn’t played with too much force.

Unfortunately for Trent, the number 9 did reach the ball and lobbed the onrushing Alisson to give Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side the early lead. Apart from the mistake, Alexander-Arnold was very sloppy all game, losing the ball 38 times, a Premier League record for this season. (Stats by WhoScored)

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