Southampton will not have a more difficult challenge in the Premier League this season than away at Liverpool and without Danny Ings.
Southampton had a mixed time of it against Brighton & Hove Albion last Monday, dominating the first half and earning a two-goal lead before blowing it to draw 2-2.
It means the Saints have dropped 13 points from winning position since Mark Hughes took over as manager; nearly twice as many as anyone else.
While they may have given up two points, there was a real positive for Southampton: the continued importance of Danny Ings since arriving on deadline day.
Ings won a penalty that he then converted to make it 2-0, his third goal in his first five games for Southampton – a figure that would have made him one of the club’s top scorers last season.
Up next, however, is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool; a trip they will have to make without Ings.
It will likely be their toughest test of the season, against one of the best sides in Europe and without their star, but it also provides an immediate opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
The big problem of failing to see out leads and kill games will likely be tested for 90 minutes on Saturday by a team who score goals for fun.
Southampton will struggle to match any scoring threat and so seeing out the match for a point is their best option. If they can do it, it will give them the confidence and know how to do it anywhere – and that could transform them as a team.
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