Like an amateur boxer adapting to the professional game, Southampton are finding their neat footwork undone by a lack of a killer blow.



Much like at Burnley last week, against Liverpool this Saturday Southampton were again solid in the first half. Again they missed a batch of presentable goalscoring opportunities. Again they were punished for their defensive mistakes by an opposition’s more ruthless attack.



The Premier League table may have Southampton languishing in the relegation places with a goal difference of -4, but their fans need not be too disheartened by their performance this weekend.



Saints managed 14 attempts on the Liverpool goal, a figure they reached just once during the 2018-19 Premier League season. As Jurgen Klopp said in his post-match press conference: “Southampton are a good team. They defend well, they had good counter-attacks, good organisation”.



Southampton were good value against Liverpool, but their lack...