Southampton against Liverpool

Garcia gets a booking for cynical tackle on Jones

Biscan and Gerrard try to conjure an opening, but there are too many Saints players behind then ball

A change for Southampton, off to great applause goes Svensson and on comes the promising striker Kenwyne Jones who has just returned from a successful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday

A long ball from Niemi is wasted as it reaches his opposite number.

Jakobssen with a fine tackle to deny Baros - who has been Liverpool's liveliest player

A free header for Crouch creeps just wide of the post

Prutton slows the game down, waiting for Crouch to find space before firing in a cross

Garcia's touch fails him and a decent position is lost and Saints are back on the ball and must have this game all sewn up

Liverpool in a mess at the back, but luckily Delap couldn't take advantage

Foul given against Garcia for a foul on Prutton.

Saints working hard to deny Liverpool anytime to create any meaningfull chances

Gerrard tries to curl a another shot around the keeper but it never looked like threatening Niemi

Biscan wins a corner for Liverpool. Gerrard takes and it reaches Riise, but his following cross is poor.

Ten minutes to go and if Liverpool are to get anything out of this game they need to score soon.

Great run by Baros who cut across the top of the penalty area only before slipping a ball to Pongolle whose shot was blocked.

A change for Liverpool, Igor Biscan takes the place of Hammann

John Arne Riise tries a shot from distance, but its off target.

A change for Southampton, off goes Nilsson and on comes Andreas Jakobsson.

Great vision by Morientes to switch play from the left to right wing, the ball ends up with Baros who makes space for shot, but drags his effort wide.

Gerrard tried a tradmark piledriver from the freekick but Prutton blocked the effort.

Baros goes down under a tackle from Redknapp - nothing too serious.

Liverpool tear forward only for Raven to try his luck from distance, but his shot is poor

Yet another strong move by Southampton, this time it ends when Crouch is double-teamed

Penalty claim waved away by the ref - it looked like Crouch was manhandled to the deck by Raven - lucky escape for the 19-yr-old making his Premiership debut

The move ends when Crouch fails to get a shot away following a Prutton cross.

Saints on a quick break. As Liverpool press on there are gaps at the back.

Still time for Liverpool to get something out of the game, and they are coming back into it, but Southampton deserve the glory.

The medical staff say Hypia has twisted his hip - which sounds painful!

And the change is made - Hypia off and David Raven on in his place. Actually Raven goes to right back and Carragher moves into the centre with Pellegrino.

Hypia looks uncomfortable and could be making his injury worse by playing on.

Baros is angry this time after he is ruled to have used his hand to control a ball in a tussle with Telfer

Hypia is back on the pitch and is furious to have conceded a corner

Hypia was off the pitch so unable to defend a Saints corner, but the ball was cleared

The game has moved up a gear - great spell for both sides, but the game stops as Hypia needs treatment. He looks in real pain. He made a great tackle on Crouch to prevent a goalscoring chance, but the big defender is off the pitch taking treatment on a leg injury.

Another foul given against crouch for using his frame against the defender

Morientes and Baros link-up well but Morientes' shot flies high over the bar.

Excellent tackle by Claus Lundekvam to prevent Baros from getting a shot in on goal following great win play by Pongolle

The freekick is nudged to Gerrard who thumps the ball hard against the crossbar, and it flies out for goalkick

Harsh call against Redknapp - a freekick just outside the box in a central position for handball, when the ball actually hit Redknapp's thigh.

Pongolle and Gerrard not quite on the same wavelength and as such a one-two fails to work.

Mikael Nilsson can't reach Higginbottom's final ball and another fine attacking move by Southampton ends.

Saints win the latest midfield battle and forge forward.

The second half has started as a much more even contest - Southampton continue to play well, but Liverpool have upped thier play

Two half chances for Liverpool in the space of 30 seconds. Firstly Morientes tried his luck but failed to really connect with the shot. And secondly Baros fired in a low shot which fizzed fractionally wide of the post.

Redknapp sees the keeper off his line and tries his luck with a shot from the freekick, but Dudek backtracks and saves.

Foul given for a foul on Prutton by Didi Hamman - but surely Wiley should have waved play-on, Saints hada great position. Yellow card for hamman.

Delap wastes some good build-up play. He beats Hypia, but fails to drag the ball back across the box after reaching the byline.

Pongolle with some good early work down the right wing.

OK, we're back and Liverpool have made a change, but it's not Gerrard. Off has gone Warnock and in his place has come Florent Sinama Pongolle.

However, the home side can be proud of themselves - great team display, hussling for every loose pass and using possession well. Prutton and Redknapp shining for the home team. Keep it here for the second half!

The Rafa-Revolution looks to have stalled - a terrible week so far for the Reds! They have been beaten to the ball across the pitch and need to find a way to counter Saints' dominance in the middle. Gerrard is surely not 100 match-fit.

But the whistle goes foe halftime. And what a half for Saints!!

Poor control from Baros allows Saints to mount an attack down the right...

Baros caught offside.

Two minutes of stoppage time will be played.

Southampton close down and give Liverpool no time on the ball at all. Great team display.

Corner to Liverpool after Garcia's shot was deflected

Another poor pass from Pellegrino - he needs to get the basic right, but the adjustment to the speed of the Premiership has found him off the pace.

Pellegrino has had a half to forget - this time he tries to launch a pass forward, but passes it out of play.

Jamie Carragher escapes the ref's wrath after clearly committing a foul - Wiley waves play on

Dudek makes another save from Crouch who tries his luck with a snap shot after good build-up play.

Gerrard can't be fully-fit. He's been sluggish and could be subbed at halftime.

Higginbottom fires in a poor cross and Liverpool can regather - but they are under pressure immeadiately with Crouch defending from the front.

Delap, Svensson, Redknapp and Higginbottom are linking play together - neat passing showing Liverpool up to be raggedd and shapeless.

Redknapp goes into the book for a foul on Luis Garcia - nasty but not malicious.

The Rafa-Revolution looks to have stalled - Liverpool look poor - unable to find an answer to Southampton's dominance.

Niemi has been a bystander - only Gerrard's wild shot for him to worry about.

Svensson defends well - cutting out a clipped ball from Hypia to Garcia

Foul given against Crouch for backing in.

Warnock's pass to Baros is cut off and Saints break, only fro Redknapp to be fouled - what a game he's having!

There is some real hit-and-hope passing by Liverpool - which Southampton with their numerical advantage in the middle are fully exploiting

Dudek saves from Delap after the Liverpool defence was exposed yet again. Delap should have squared a pass to the unmarked Crouch and it would have been 3-0.

Terrible shot from Svensson - out for a throw! Liverpool clear

Another corner after Gerrard headed away Calum Davenport's effort

Corner for Saints after some great work by Prutton.

Good play by Warnock, he lost his marker, collected the ball and fired in a great cross but Baros and Morientes couldn't capitalise

Liverpool clear their lines, but they can't get a foot on the ball in the middle. Redknapp is having a great game, gathering loose balls, calming those around and using possession well.

Actually he wasn't! Higginbottom tried to drive it at goal, but the walls tood firm.

Freekick to Saints on the right flank - Redknapp will be looking for Crouch

Good work by Dudek to cut out a one-on-one - the refs flag was up for offside, but good work none-the-less by the Pole

What a start for Southampton! Harry Redknapp has shaken Liverpool, they look in need of help, but the half still has plenty of time to run. Benitez will not be happy.

Crouch on target with a firm header, but once again Pellegrino has dropped a clanger. He tried a clearance that reached no-one, then got sucked in trying to press Redknapp, he passed to Prutton, totally unmarked as Pellegrino was out of position, then his simple cross found Crouch. Simple, but effective!

2-nil!!!!!!!!

Terrible ball by Steven Gerrard - straight to Southampton player. He then tries a long range shot after Baros worked hard to keep the ball in.

Luis Garcia miscontrols but escapes - but still Liverpool not in thier stride. They are playing easy-to-defend balls through the middle - not good enough

Delap throws-in another trademark huge throw - just as good as a corner, but again Dudek claims it. Crouch perhaps waiting for the bang on his head to calm before attack long balls?!

Danny Higginbottom fires in a great cross, but its cleared, but only as far as Svensson - all Saints pressure!

Clash of heads. Crouch and Hypia on the deck getting the magic sponge treatment.

Liverpool try to arrest Saints dominance by spending some time on the ball - they spread it left to right across the back before moving it forward, only to lose possession. Poor.

How are Southampton in the wrong half of the table? They are playing some great football; slick passing, to feet - can they keep it up for 90mins?

Prutton feeling confident! After some clever passing Prutton ignores the option of lifting a pass to Crouch and tries his luck from distance. Sadly for him the shot was well wide.

Stephen Warnock and Baros link-up well, but Baros shot is off target

Yes they can, Redknapp floated a beauty into the box, but Dudek jumped highest to claim

Handball given against Luis Garcia - can the Saints whip a good ball in

Former Liverpool man Jamie Redknapp on the ball, spreds it to the talented Svensson

Long ball from the back aimed at the long, long frame of Crouch

Morientes goes down in the penalty area, not a full-on dive, but he made a bit too much of it. He went down too easy after just losing control of the ball. No pen.

Liverpool finally get some possession and showing their quality

Liverpool try some clever stuff from a freekick, but it doesn't work at all and the ball ends up back with Antti Niemi

Hypia brings the ball forward before passing to Baros - signs of Liverpool composure

It's all Southampton at the moment - their 4-5-1 giving them a dominance in midfield at the moment.

Pellegrino clears the ball from a low cross - he was clearly taken aback by the pace of the Premiership by that goal

The Saints have the bit between their teeth now - tearing forward and passing the ball at will. Liverpool shellshocked.

David Prutton finished neatly from a tight angle after he closed down Mauricio Pellegrino and exposed some terrible Liverpool defending - great start!

Goal for Southampton!!!

Anders Svensson gets a round of applause from the home fans after a forward run. Rory Delap takes a long throw but Dudek gathers

Sami Hypia shields the ball the back to Jerzy Dudek after cutting out a pass meant for the lanky Saints striker Peter Crouch

Early pressure from Liverpool, in all yellow today, Fernando Morientes looks lively

Milan Baros leaps high but fails to connect with a Jamie carragher cross - he went for the spectacular but ended up on the deck

Referee Alan Wiley blows his whistle and we're underway

And for Liverpool: Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Pellegrino, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Morientes. The subs: Traore, Sinama Pongolle, Biscan, Raven, Carson.

The team news is in, lining up for Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson, Prutton, Delap, Redknapp, Anders Svensson, Crouch. And on the subs bench: Jakobsson, Oakley, Smith, Jones, Ormerod.

A change for Liverpool, Igor Biscan takes the place of Hammann

John Arne Riise tries a shot from distance, but its off target.

A change for Southampton, off goes Nilsson and on comes Andreas Jakobsson.

Great vision by Morientes to switch play from the left to right wing, the ball ends up with Baros who makes space for shot, but drags his effort wide.

Gerrard tried a tradmark piledriver from the freekick but Prutton blocked the effort.

Baros goes down under a tackle from Redknapp - nothing too serious.

Liverpool tear forward only for Raven to try his luck from distance, but his shot is poor

Yet another strong move by Southampton, this time it ends when Crouch is double-teamed

Penalty claim waved away by the ref - it looked like Crouch was manhandled to the deck by Raven - lucky escape for the 19-yr-old making his Premiership debut

The move ends when Crouch fails to get a shot away following a Prutton cross.

Saints on a quick break. As Liverpool press on there are gaps at the back.

Still time for Liverpool to get something out of the game, and they are coming back into it, but Southampton deserve the glory.

The medical staff say Hypia has twisted his hip - which sounds painful!

And the change is made - Hypia off and David Raven on in his place. Actually Raven goes to right back and Carragher moves into the centre with Pellegrino.

Hypia looks uncomfortable and could be making his injury worse by playing on.

Baros is angry this time after he is ruled to have used his hand to control a ball in a tussle with Telfer

Hypia is back on the pitch and is furious to have conceded a corner

Hypia was off the pitch so unable to defend a Saints corner, but the ball was cleared

The game has moved up a gear - great spell for both sides, but the game stops as Hypia needs treatment. He looks in real pain. He made a great tackle on Crouch to prevent a goalscoring chance, but the big defender is off the pitch taking treatment on a leg injury.

Another foul given against crouch for using his frame against the defender

Morientes and Baros link-up well but Morientes' shot flies high over the bar.

Excellent tackle by Claus Lundekvam to prevent Baros from getting a shot in on goal following great win play by Pongolle

The freekick is nudged to Gerrard who thumps the ball hard against the crossbar, and it flies out for goalkick

Harsh call against Redknapp - a freekick just outside the box in a central position for handball, when the ball actually hit Redknapp's thigh.

Pongolle and Gerrard not quite on the same wavelength and as such a one-two fails to work.

Mikael Nilsson can't reach Higginbottom's final ball and another fine attacking move by Southampton ends.

Saints win the latest midfield battle and forge forward.

The second half has started as a much more even contest - Southampton continue to play well, but Liverpool have upped thier play

Two half chances for Liverpool in the space of 30 seconds. Firstly Morientes tried his luck but failed to really connect with the shot. And secondly Baros fired in a low shot which fizzed fractionally wide of the post.

Redknapp sees the keeper off his line and tries his luck with a shot from the freekick, but Dudek backtracks and saves.

Foul given for a foul on Prutton by Didi Hamman - but surely Wiley should have waved play-on, Saints hada great position. Yellow card for hamman.

Delap wastes some good build-up play. He beats Hypia, but fails to drag the ball back across the box after reaching the byline.

Pongolle with some good early work down the right wing.

OK, we're back and Liverpool have made a change, but it's not Gerrard. Off has gone Warnock and in his place has come Florent Sinama Pongolle.

However, the home side can be proud of themselves - great team display, hussling for every loose pass and using possession well. Prutton and Redknapp shining for the home team. Keep it here for the second half!

The Rafa-Revolution looks to have stalled - a terrible week so far for the Reds! They have been beaten to the ball across the pitch and need to find a way to counter Saints' dominance in the middle. Gerrard is surely not 100 match-fit.

But the whistle goes foe halftime. And what a half for Saints!!

Poor control from Baros allows Saints to mount an attack down the right...

Baros caught offside.

Two minutes of stoppage time will be played.

Southampton close down and give Liverpool no time on the ball at all. Great team display.

Corner to Liverpool after Garcia's shot was deflected

Another poor pass from Pellegrino - he needs to get the basic right, but the adjustment to the speed of the Premiership has found him off the pace.

Pellegrino has had a half to forget - this time he tries to launch a pass forward, but passes it out of play.

Jamie Carragher escapes the ref's wrath after clearly committing a foul - Wiley waves play on

Dudek makes another save from Crouch who tries his luck with a snap shot after good build-up play.

Gerrard can't be fully-fit. He's been sluggish and could be subbed at halftime.

Higginbottom fires in a poor cross and Liverpool can regather - but they are under pressure immeadiately with Crouch defending from the front.

Delap, Svensson, Redknapp and Higginbottom are linking play together - neat passing showing Liverpool up to be raggedd and shapeless.

Redknapp goes into the book for a foul on Luis Garcia - nasty but not malicious.

The Rafa-Revolution looks to have stalled - Liverpool look poor - unable to find an answer to Southampton's dominance.

Niemi has been a bystander - only Gerrard's wild shot for him to worry about.

Svensson defends well - cutting out a clipped ball from Hypia to Garcia

Foul given against Crouch for backing in.

Warnock's pass to Baros is cut off and Saints break, only fro Redknapp to be fouled - what a game he's having!

There is some real hit-and-hope passing by Liverpool - which Southampton with their numerical advantage in the middle are fully exploiting

Dudek saves from Delap after the Liverpool defence was exposed yet again. Delap should have squared a pass to the unmarked Crouch and it would have been 3-0.

Terrible shot from Svensson - out for a throw! Liverpool clear

Another corner after Gerrard headed away Calum Davenport's effort

Corner for Saints after some great work by Prutton.

Good play by Warnock, he lost his marker, collected the ball and fired in a great cross but Baros and Morientes couldn't capitalise

Liverpool clear their lines, but they can't get a foot on the ball in the middle. Redknapp is having a great game, gathering loose balls, calming those around and using possession well.

Actually he wasn't! Higginbottom tried to drive it at goal, but the walls tood firm.

Freekick to Saints on the right flank - Redknapp will be looking for Crouch

Good work by Dudek to cut out a one-on-one - the refs flag was up for offside, but good work none-the-less by the Pole

What a start for Southampton! Harry Redknapp has shaken Liverpool, they look in need of help, but the half still has plenty of time to run. Benitez will not be happy.

Crouch on target with a firm header, but once again Pellegrino has dropped a clanger. He tried a clearance that reached no-one, then got sucked in trying to press Redknapp, he passed to Prutton, totally unmarked as Pellegrino was out of position, then his simple cross found Crouch. Simple, but effective!

2-nil!!!!!!!!

Terrible ball by Steven Gerrard - straight to Southampton player. He then tries a long range shot after Baros worked hard to keep the ball in.

Luis Garcia miscontrols but escapes - but still Liverpool not in thier stride. They are playing easy-to-defend balls through the middle - not good enough

Delap throws-in another trademark huge throw - just as good as a corner, but again Dudek claims it. Crouch perhaps waiting for the bang on his head to calm before attack long balls?!

Danny Higginbottom fires in a great cross, but its cleared, but only as far as Svensson - all Saints pressure!

Clash of heads. Crouch and Hypia on the deck getting the magic sponge treatment.

Liverpool try to arrest Saints dominance by spending some time on the ball - they spread it left to right across the back before moving it forward, only to lose possession. Poor.

How are Southampton in the wrong half of the table? They are playing some great football; slick passing, to feet - can they keep it up for 90mins?

Prutton feeling confident! After some clever passing Prutton ignores the option of lifting a pass to Crouch and tries his luck from distance. Sadly for him the shot was well wide.

Stephen Warnock and Baros link-up well, but Baros shot is off target

Yes they can, Redknapp floated a beauty into the box, but Dudek jumped highest to claim

Handball given against Luis Garcia - can the Saints whip a good ball in

Former Liverpool man Jamie Redknapp on the ball, spreds it to the talented Svensson

Long ball from the back aimed at the long, long frame of Crouch

Morientes goes down in the penalty area, not a full-on dive, but he made a bit too much of it. He went down too easy after just losing control of the ball. No pen.

Liverpool finally get some possession and showing their quality

Liverpool try some clever stuff from a freekick, but it doesn't work at all and the ball ends up back with Antti Niemi

Hypia brings the ball forward before passing to Baros - signs of Liverpool composure

It's all Southampton at the moment - their 4-5-1 giving them a dominance in midfield at the moment.

Pellegrino clears the ball from a low cross - he was clearly taken aback by the pace of the Premiership by that goal

The Saints have the bit between their teeth now - tearing forward and passing the ball at will. Liverpool shellshocked.

David Prutton finished neatly from a tight angle after he closed down Mauricio Pellegrino and exposed some terrible Liverpool defending - great start!

Goal for Southampton!!!

Anders Svensson gets a round of applause from the home fans after a forward run. Rory Delap takes a long throw but Dudek gathers

Sami Hypia shields the ball the back to Jerzy Dudek after cutting out a pass meant for the lanky Saints striker Peter Crouch

Early pressure from Liverpool, in all yellow today, Fernando Morientes looks lively

Milan Baros leaps high but fails to connect with a Jamie carragher cross - he went for the spectacular but ended up on the deck

Referee Alan Wiley blows his whistle and we're underway

And for Liverpool: Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Pellegrino, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Morientes. The subs: Traore, Sinama Pongolle, Biscan, Raven, Carson.

The team news is in, lining up for Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson, Prutton, Delap, Redknapp, Anders Svensson, Crouch. And on the subs bench: Jakobsson, Oakley, Smith, Jones, Ormerod.