Fraser Forster’s second half penalty save ensured Southampton left Anfield with a point while putting a major dent in Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Milner’s penalty, awarded after Jack Stephens handled, was kept out by a sprawling Forster as a Liverpool side short on ideas failed to make their dominance in possession count.
?Liverpool nearly took the lead early on when Roberto Firmino caught Oriol Romeu napping in possession, but the Brazilian’s shot was blocked by Maya Yoshida as the visitors scrambled the ball clear.
Firmino saw another long-range effort saved before tempers flared towards the end of the first half. Manolo Gabbiadini tussled with Joel Matip as the centre-back looked to ease the ball out of play before the Italian clattered his opponent, being given a stern talking to by referee Bobby Madley soon afterwards.
Without Adam Lallana starting in midfield Liverpool looked short of ideas, with the trio of Emre Can, Lucas Leiva and Georginio Wijnaldum lacking creativity while striker Divock Origi was consistently starved of room by a well orchestrated Southampton defence.
Can slammed a shot high and wide, but soon after Liverpool were gifted the chance to take the lead. Jack Stephens’ elbow met a Lucas cross and a penalty was awarded but, after yellow cards for both Cedric Soares and James Ward-Prowse for gamesmanship, Fraser Forster stretched brilliantly to keep out Jame Milner’s spot-kick.
Lallana and Daniel Sturridge were brought on midway through the second half as Jurgen Klopp looked to lift the Reds, with Philippe Coutinho soon curling an effort straight at Forster. Sturridge nearly conjured a goal out of nothing, jinking past Stephens before poking his shot at Forster.
On the counter Southampton so nearly exposed Liverpool at the back, but Sofiane Boufal’s cross to a free Shane Long was overhit before Sturridge whipped a shot past the near post as the game became stretched in the last 10 minutes.
Substitute Marko Grujic came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock, but his header was emphatically kept out by Forster’s big right hand.
The draw means Liverpool will be watching Sunday’s fixture between Arsenal and Manchester United with greater interest and anxiety as their Champions League hopes continue to hang in the balance.
Liverpool XI:
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