Liverpool vs Southampton. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance44,171.
Monday 26 October 2015 06:16, UK
Jurgen Klopp was denied his first victory as Liverpool manager as Southampton fought back to draw 1-1 at Anfield.
In a game of few clear chances, it looked as though Christian Benteke had secured victory for the Reds when he came off the bench and scored a fine header in the 77th minute.
However, Sadio Mane bundled in an equaliser with four minutes remaining before being sent off in injury-time for two quick bookings.
The draw is Liverpool's eighth stalemate in their last nine matches in all competitions and again they lacked a cutting edge in the final third, with just two shots on target.
Their options up front were still limited, though, as Daniel Sturridge missed out through injury while Benteke and Roberto Firmino were only fit enough to start on the bench.
Liverpool's only change from their Europa League draw against Rubin Kazan on Thursday saw Lucas come in to replace Joe Allen while goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg returned for Saints and Jordy Clasie made his first Premier League start in place of James Ward-Prowse.
There was little action to speak of in the opening 45 minutes, with Virgil van Dijk spurning Saints' best chance with a miscued header from a free-kick and Alberto Moreno blazing over at the other end.
But the introduction of Benteke at half-time gave Liverpool more presence up front and they made a promising start to the second half.
Moreno, who earned the second-loudest cheer of the afternoon after recovering at least five yards on Mane to put in a goal-saving tackle, drilled a shot across the face of goal from the narrowest of angles, with nobody there to turn it in.
When the deadlock was eventually broken in the 77th minute, it was no surprise that it was Benteke who made the breakthrough.
James Milner swung a cross in from the right and the Belgian rose highest to power a header into the top corner.
Joy and relief exploded around Anfield but Liverpool's celebrations were cut short when Mane bundled home the equaliser at the far post after the hosts failed to defend a late free-kick.
The goal continued Southampton's unbeaten away record away in the Premier League this season, even if Mane was not there at the end to celebrate it having been shown two yellow cards in quick succesion.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Mignolet (6), Clyne (6), Skrtel (6), Sakho (6), Moreno (7), Lucas (6), Can (6), Milner (5), Coutinho (6), Lallana (6), Origi (5).
Subs used: Benteke (7), Firmino (5), Ibe (5).
Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Cedric (6), Fonte (6), Van Dijk (6), Bertrand (7), Wanyama (6), Clasie (5), S. Davis (6), Mane (5), Tadic (5), Pelle (6).
Subs used: Ward-Prowse (5), Ramirez (5), Juanmi (5).
Man of the match: Christian Benteke.
