On the final day of the 2022/23 Premier League season, Liverpool drew 4-4 with Southampton in a thrilling contest at St Mary’s Stadium. Goals from James Ward-Prowse, Kamaldeen Sulemana (2), and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist for Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota (2), Roberto Firmino, and Gakpo gave the Reds a point in an entertaining game.
Caoimhin Kelleher was handed his first league start of the season, but he will be disappointed that he didn’t prevent Sulemana’s opening goal, with the ball squeezing under him. Trent Alexander-Arnold finished the season with a good performance, again standing out in his new hybrid midfield role, providing an assist for Gakpo. Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were given rare outings, but they never looked as dominant as they once did. Kostas Tsimikas came in for Andy Robertson, but this was a forgettable showing. Fabinho provided an assist for Firmino on his final game for the club, and James Milner made his 332nd and final appearance for the Reds, bringing to an end the career of arguably the greatest free transfer in the club’s history. Curtis Jones was really quiet, but Mohamed Salah got an assist for Jota’s second of the afternoon, and hit the post with a missed-control at 4-4.
Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz, Jordan Henderson, and Gakpo all came off the bench and made an impact, with Gakpo scoring to make it 4-3 and nearly winning it. Jurgen Klopp made seven changes in total and it was nice to see him give Milner and Firmino the nod. Klopp won’t have been happy about some of the defending on show, with Saints’ goals indicative of Liverpool’s issues at the back all season long. It was a fitting end to a tough season for Liverpool, who finished with their lowest points total in a full season under Klopp’s management.