Reds pay penalty with Saints draw
Print Edition
JAMES Milner’s perfect record from the penalty spot ended at a crucial time in the English Premier League season for Liverpool in a 0-0 draw against Southampton yesterday, damaging his team’s quest for UEFA Champions League qualification.
The left back scored from his first seven spot kicks this season but his eighth attempt was saved by Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the 66th minute of a lackluster game at Anfield.
“I can’t do more than hold my hands up and apologize to the boys,” said Milner, whose last penalty miss in the EPL was in 2009.
The point lifted Liverpool back into third place above Manchester City, but this was a missed opportunity in its bid to finish in the top four and return to Europe’s elite competition next season.
Southampton defended deep and in numbers, and barely ceded a chance to a Liverpool side that played too narrow and was predictable going forward.
Liverpool has picked up only two points from its last three games at Anfield and is struggling without injured top scorer Sadio Mane.
The Reds have two games left, away to West Ham United and at home to Middlesbrough, but can still be caught by City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The penalty was awarded following a hopeful ball into the box, with Liverpool running out of ideas. Southampton center back Jack Stephens first held off Divock Origi, then connected with the falling ball as he moved his right arm.
Forster engaged in some gamesmanship before the penalty kick, talking in the ear of Milner and stamping near the penalty spot. The players were teammates at Newcastle United and also know each other from time together with England.
“I’ve been around long enough not to let that affect me,” Milner said of Forster’s antics.
Liverpool has played Southampton four times this season — twice in the league and in the two-legged League Cup semifinals — and didn’t manage to score in any of the games.
“Southampton wanted to come here and somehow get a point, or more, and I’m fine with defending,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “They did not create anything and we had a hard job to do. To play against 10 deep defending Southampton players is very difficult ... it is a point more but doesn’t feel like that.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle sewed up the Championship title yesterday, beating Barnsley 3-0 to finish above Brighton & Hove Albion and return to the EPL with a bang on a frantic final day at both ends of the second-tier.
Brighton finished second after drawing 1-1 at mid-table Aston Villa, while at the other end of the table Nottingham Forest pulled off a narrow escape as 1995 EPL champions Blackburn Rovers were relegated.
Forest looked set for the drop after Blackburn took a 2-0 first-half lead at Brentford, but Britt Assombalonga scored a penalty to put the twice European champion back in the box seat.
Chris Cohen doubled Forest’s lead after the interval and Assombalonga missed a second penalty, but made amends with a powerful shot from inside the area to give Forest a 3-0 win that kept it up on goal difference.
Blackburn’s 3-1 victory over Brentford could not prevent it from dropping into the third-tier next season, alongside already relegated Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United.
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