Liverpool continued their excellent start to the Premiership season with a comprehensive trouncing of 'The Saints' at Anfield to put them top of the fledgling Premiership table. It could have been more as chance after chance went begging but a superb display from each of the 14 players involved ensured that the margin of victory was convincing to say the least.
Looking back to last season's corresponding fixture, in which an apprehensive Liverpool outfit slumped to a 1-1 draw with Strachan's men, this was quite the contrast. Starting with Michael Owen and El-Hadji Diouf upfront supported more than ably by Emile Heskey (who looked as good on the left as we have seen him), the Reds approach was one we were clamouring for during the depressing Christmas period of 2001/02, when Southampton were scandalously allowed to sneak back into a game we had started with the same intensity as we did today.
The Reds inspiration today was the magnificent El-Hadji Diouf, whose double strike gave a huge middle finger to those who doubted he could produce the goods in front of goal. On his home debut, Diouf looked to be the total package. Pace, power, and bags of skill we knew he had, but his ability to get into goalscoring positions and finish them off will come as a massive boost to reds who saw him fail to find the net during his explosive World Cup and during pre-season.
His partner Michael Owen probably had his best all round game in a long time. He looked extremely sharp and I don't recall him giving the ball away once in the 75 minutes he was on the pitch. Unfortunately for Michael he can't seem to buy a goal for love nor money at the moment and the great saves by Aston Villa's Peter Enckleman were today replaced by a disallowed goal, a couple of great blocks and a pull on his shirt by Paul Williams who tried in vain to handle Liverpool's explosive front line.
It's only a matter of time before the goals start flying in for Michael; we've seen it time and time again. Inevitably some will start to doubt him, only for him to ram it down their throats for seemingly the 5,562nd time.
The Reds came out of the blocks with aplomb today and, just as they had last January gained the early advantage over the wee Scotsman's team as a powerful run and cross from Heskey was turned in at the far post by Diouf. Liverpool fans fell in love with Diouf the day he made Marcel Desially look like Torben Piechnik and that relationship just seems to be growing and growing….Diouf, Diouf, Diouf is on fire!
Star Man Danny Murphy almost doubled the advantage with a beautifully floated free kick which crashed against the upright. Murphy seems to hit the post more than any player I've ever seen, but he seems to be finally winning over an Anfield crowd who have been unfair to say the least in the past. The Chant of 'Super Danny Murphy' was heard a lot more than usual today.
Murphy's rebound was gleefully tucked away by Michael Owen, only for his joy to be short-lived as the assistant referee's flag was correctly raised against him. The decision seemed strange to some as the ball was travelling back to Owen off the post, but as the last touch was Murphy's, the linesman was right to chalk off his effort.
While never being spectacular in the first period, everything seemed to be coming together for the Reds with the excellent Steven Gerrard orchestrating things from midfield. Passing was crisp and at times the game turned into a keep-ball session as the saints rarely threatened Jerzy's goal.
This season the utterly mediocre Chris Marsden was rendered useless after quite amazingly being allowed to run the show during the two teams' last encounter in L4.
The Reds started second half proceedings in a similar vain as Diouf's 51st minute strike wrapped up the points. As if his range of talents weren't impressive enough, we now know he can head the ball as well. A superbly directed long throw from Abel Xavier was flicked on by Heskey and Diouf lunged in at the back stick to register his first of hopefully many goals at the Kop end.
That also made it two assists for Heskey. If he can keep that ratio going then I'm sure no-one will disagree with his selection on the left hand side of midfield. Djimi Traore's faultless performance at left back helped Emile today; whereas Riise's presence would have meant Emile would have needed to do more defending, giving the attacking nature of the young Norwegian. This being said it was still somewhat of a surprise when Djimi was selected ahead of Riise.
Xavier too redeemed himself a little today, and apart from his usual lack of positional sense he barely put a foot wrong at right back. Still his poor positional play alone is enough to make all reds wish for the speedy recovery of returning duo Jamie Carragher and Marcus Babbel. Abel Xavier is a stop-gap, pure and simple.
Further shooting chances arrived at the feet of Heskey, Murphy and Hamann, the former two well stopped by the notoriously dodgy Paul Jones, who those with a decent memory will remember a 7-1 drubbing of Southampton a few seasons back in which young Jonesey was responsibly for about all but two of the goals.
With the magnificent Gerrard - who won about 8 defensive headers from corners today - Owen and Diouf leaving the field early and all to rapturous ovations, John Arne Riise, Smicer and Cheyrou were given the chance to shine. I think even though most of us dreaded it, we all knew it was coming as chants of 'Bruno, Bruno' accompanied the French internationals' Anfield entrance.
If he had joined Arsenal you could guarantee that their fans would have come up with a witty and catchy song by now, but poor Cheyrou will now be stuck with "Bruno, Bruno" for all eternity. One wonders if the imaginative fans who made the Kop famous are wearing Gunners' shirts nowadays.
The saints made changes of their own and the introduction of Jo Tessum served to cause a few problems for the reds giving the utterly defeated James Beattie some much needed support upfront. I sometimes find myself feeling sorry for strikers who come up against Sami and Steph, at times Beattie - who looks to have been spending too much time at Barbeques over the summer - looked totally despondent at being dominated by the best pair in European football.
Cheyrou's impact couldn't have been more immediate as after only 5 minutes he won a penalty which was amazingly similar to the one that Stevie G earned at Villa Park last weekend. However that was where the similarities to last week ended as another of last weeks hero's - Danny Murphy - rounded of another magnificently competent display by succeeding where the European Footballer of the year couldn't.
Murphy should be taking our penalties full-time, I will argue 'til I'm blue in the face that Danny Murphy is the best finisher at the football club.
Vladi also did well in his customary coming off the bench role; one feels that he could do a lot of damage this season as he nearly did towards the end. After being put through by Cheyrou, Smicer really should have done better, but fired straight at Jones who to be fair, stood up really well. A goal would have been great for Vladi, to from the start get Arseholes like Tommy Smith off of his back.
So after a difficult pre-season, and a summer of discontent, everything seems to be falling nicely into place when things really matter. This was the kind of home performance that can only instil confidence in everyone connected with the club. This is what we have waited for, attacking free-flowing possession football, attacking down the flanks and minimal use of the long ball; hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Abel Xavier, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, Djimi Traore; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard (Bruno Cheyrou), Didi Hamann, Emile Heskey; El Hadji Diouf (Vladimir Smicer), Michael Owen (John Arne Riise):
