NewYorkSaint

I really really want to see an Adams goal. He and Djenepo have been fantastic.

Really need to win this... We were so much the better team. McCarthy has had plenty of amazing games for us. We know he's great. Just hope he doesn't lose confidence.

Walker Peters' pass a thing of absolute beauty. Ings control and strike from no angle incredible.

What. A. Goal!

I'll say it. Saints build up play today has been sensational. Absolutely blistering pace. So exciting to see.

He doesn't look out of place. But we cd certainly use a little more excitement 2nd half.

What a half. I am overjoyed that Che finally got the goal he has so richly deserved. He could go on to be an absolutely priceless player for us. So many great aspects to his game. And the determination of our defense is so impressive. Plus, I get a lot of joy just seeing how confidently the team is playing. The commentators agree. Saints look really, really good.

Well... maybe not exactly electrifying, but we're clearly the better team.

I dunno. Questions re Djenepo... was that deliberate? really? at full speed not clear there was time to pull out. re penalty... surely he was being swung into the ball by having his other arm pulled. Arguably this is where VAR ... with its SLOW MOTION... can be unfair. ref's instincts in real time were different both times. I also think the red card rule itself is ridiculous. You should not ruin an entire game for one controversial incident. Penalize the player by all means. Force a substitution and a ban, if need be, but don't destroy the rest of the team's effort. Or introduce 15-min sin bins. Other than that, I'm perfectly happy.

Really exciting to see Smallbone. He's going to be great player for us. We need to stick w Che. It's a matter of time before goals start pouring in. That was sublime assist. Djenepo exciting to watch. JWP a rock.

Football can be so unfair. 1) denied an absolutely obvious passback to keeper a couple yards from the goal. Even Long could have had a shot on target from there. 2) it was absolutely a penalty for Ings. Commentators admitted as much later in the half. If that's taken, the Liverpool first goal catching us on the break never happens. So it's 0-1 Saints until maybe late in the game. 3) The only reason they ran away w goals was because we continued relentless pressing. At 1-0 we cd have focused on holding our shape. Who knows what the score wd have been. Given Salah's spectacular form, they prob still win, but more likely 2-1. We should be really proud of the team and manager today. We went for it, and on another day would have had an amazing result. That first half was incredible JWP playing better than I've ever seen him. Pressing that truly rattled liverpool. We looked the better team. That's what we have to hold onto.

The authority of JWP these days is pretty amazing. He's had a great half. I thought Obafemi pretty exciting. Will be curious to see if Djen comes through 2nd half. on his day, the boy is incredible. And Redmond! fantastic half from him.

Such a joy to watch Saints. Their level of aggression and determination, and the skill with which they apply it, is thrilling to see, and must be pretty distressing for opponents. Then, unlike earlier in the season, when we win the ball, we're moving it forward really quickly. Hoj, JWP, Armstrong showing fantastic quick-touch passing. Cedric has been lethal. Seeing Shane Long score is big boost too. A slight gain in his confidence and poise in front of goal, and there could be a lot more to come. We absolutely look like a team who deserves to be in Europe. I hope we avoid mistakes/complacency/misfortune and continue with this second half. another goal or two and a clean sheet would have us all dreaming dreaming... How good does it feel to watch games and feel like we felt when Poch and Koeman were here...?!

One other thing worth emphasizing. The response to their goal was incredibly impressive. So many reasons why the team would have lost confidence from that and started to tremble about more goals. Instead they surged back even more dominant than before. That was remarkable to see. An extraordinary turn round from a couple months ago. I would love to know what are the real causes of that shift in psychology. In addition to Ralph some players must have show real leadership. And other behind scenes moves? I mean the shift since 0-9 beggars belief.

Sensational half by Saints. By far the hungrier, sharper team. Could easily be 1-4. So damn exciting to see them come back to playing with true confidence and authority. Hoj, Armstrong, JWP, Redmond are gobbling up possession... and then moving it at thrilling pace. Ings so unlucky. That last shot off the bar was moving at 80mph. Incredible strike. We deserve to win this. Based on weeks since 0-9 we've performed as top 4 team. And we're showing it again today.

People are being way to tough on Adams. There were numerous occasions where he held up the ball and kept moves going. It was his delicious cross-field flick to Vokins that made the second goal. There must have been something in the system/formation at Birmingham that gave him more chances suited to his style of play.... We shd be working to figure that out, not crucifying him.

In the last 8 games we've averaged 2 points per game. if we'd had that form all season, we'd be on 42 points right now... same as Man City! Just saying...

I love the new adventure in Saints play. We're making some give-aways, but I think it's largely a result of greater desire to move the ball quickly. Some of the one-touch build up has been divine. Hoj, JWP and Armstrong are in danger of turning into a really powerful engine room. Dje, Ings and Redmond can be genuinely exciting. And the defense is gaining stature with each game. As we grow in confidence I feel like best is to come. But... Spurs looking dangerous, and i'm pretty sure we'll need at least one more goal.

Plus hit the woodwork at least twice. To my eyes he's been incredibly unlucky. There were some great touches today...

I wouldn't settle for a point. I think Saints have finally broken through to a new level. We have players playing in position. A defense rapidly growing in confidence: bravo to you Jack Stephens. In our midfield, JWP and Armstrong have broken through to a whole new level of authority. Redmond and Boufal (and Djen) can be game-winners. Our high-press has become more sophisticated and is scaring opponents. And then there's the amazingness of Danny Ings and the feeling that both Obafemi and Adams are getting close to prime time. In short: we're safer at the back, more vibrant midfield, and we're scoring goals. I think we'll finally bring greater confidence to St Mary's and deliver a convincing home performance. Main wild-card is how the two teams react to the ridiculously short turn-round time. But I think there's strong evidence that we belong above mid-table, and this is a game we can confidently plan to win.

Need Armstrong and Romeo on. Prob for Djen and Hoj.... This has been ugly.

this.

The piece that people miss about JWP is how often he helps win back the ball. In that central role today I counted at least 5 times when his aggression, and reading of the game, helped pressure Watford into mistakes. He's def not a flashy player in the general run of play, but he's a combination of honest work-horse coupled with occasional game-winning touches of magic from set pieces. I think he's really important player for us. Armstrong is similar. We really missed him today. If they can sort the confidence thing, and reduce the number of mistakes, there's signs of a really strong team building here. Boufal and Djenepo are game-changers. Rate them both above Redmond based on recent form. Really good to see the back four starting to come together, though I'd have Valery over Cedric. Ings form is great bonus compared to how many of us were imagining this season would play out. I think we'll finish mid-table.

It is bizarre how Ralph seems to think full back positions can be shuffled at random. That's the single biggest question mark for me about his management. You'd think after yet another demo of how wrong that is, he could learn. I'll be shocked if Cedric still on left in 2nd half.

Armstrong is under-rated here. His runs are often really imaginative. Think he brings a good dimension. Wish Redmond was better w his decision making. He gets into incredible positions, but rarely finds the incisive final pass. JWP. He's showed his value today. not just the goal, but his constant industry. He reads the game well and is often the cause of our winning back possession. Valery has been fantastic today. And you could imagine that Stephens and Vest are actually quite good! Ah... it's the hope that kills you.