Southampton grabbed an impressive result in Week 17 of the Premier League competition. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s troops succeeded in overthrowing the defending champion, Liverpool. The Southampton vs Liverpool match was held at St Mary’s Stadium, Tuesday (5/1/2021).
It ended in a victory for the home team. The Saints, nicknamed for Southampton, managed to beat Liverpool 1-0. The only goal for Southampton’s victory was scored by Danny Ings when the game had only been running for two minutes. Ings’ quick goal, a former Liverpool player, was enough for the Saints to secure the three points at home.
The victory over Liverpool looked so meaningful to Ralph Hasenhuttl, until he shed tears after the match. “I know my tears came out after the game. It was caused by the stadium wind,” argued Hasenhuttl, reported by BBC Sport. “When I saw Southampton players fight everything tonight, it made me proud,” added the Austrian coach.
Southampton’s revival under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season is worthy of appreciation. Because 14 months ago, in the first half of the 2019-2020 season, Hasenhuttl almost lost his job after Southampton were slaughtered by nine goals by Leicester City. Not only did the Southampton players smear in front of their own supporters, the 0-9 defeat to Leicester also threatened Hasenhuttl’s position.
Hasenhuttl also claimed responsibility for the humiliating defeat. Luckily, Southampton’s management still gave him a chance and The Saints finished in 11th place in the 2019-2020 Premier League. That trust was then paid for by Ralph Hasenhuttl, at least until the Premier League this season rolls around 17 weeks. In fact, Hasenhuttl had brought Southampton to the top of the Premier League standings after beating Newcastle United in the eighth week, early November.
Ralph Hasenhuttl is now ranked third in Southampton’s list of most successful managers in the Premier League based on the percentage of wins. Hasenhuttl, who played 71 Premier League matches with The Saints, has a winning percentage of 39 percent, only losing to Ronald Koeman (76 games, 47 percent) and Glenn Hoddle (45 matches, 40 percent).
“He (Hasenhuttl) spoke with extraordinary confidence and authority. He did not come to stabilize the ship, he came to revolutionize it,” said Adam Leitch, who has covered Southampton for the Southern Daily Echo for 18 years. Meanwhile, after defeating Liverpool, Southampton currently occupy the sixth place in the 2020-2021 Premier League standings with a collection of 29 points from 17 matches.
