Yuki Suguwara ’embarrassing’ in Southampton loss at Liverpool – ‘Oh my God’
Southampton defender Yuki Sugawara was slammed by Paul Merson during his side’s defeat to Liverpool.
It has been a dismal season for the Saints so far, and that got no better as they travelled to Anfield to take on the Premier League leaders on Saturday (8 March).
Although the visitors held an unexpected 1-0 lead at half time following a mix up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool produced a second half comeback to secure a comfortable 3-1 win.
At times though Southampton did not help themselves in gifting their opponents a route back into the game, and Merson was not impressed with one such incident of that.
Yuki Sugawara slammed over penalty concession
After the break it took Liverpool just six minutes to equalise when Darwin Nunez turned in a pull-back from Luis Diaz.
Little more than a minute later Southampton found themselves behind as Mo Salah converted from the penalty spot after Will Smallbone brought down Nunez inside the area.
At 2-1 though, Ivo Juric’s side will have felt they were still in the game with Liverpool, but that changed with three minutes of normal time remaining.
As Sugawara tracked back into his own penalty under pressure from Diaz, the full-back inexplicably leaned forward and moved his arm to elbow the ball away.
With VAR spotting the offence, Southampton conceded a second penalty which was converted by Salah to confirm all three points for the hosts.
| Southampton last five games | Result |
| Burnley (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| Bournemouth (H) | Lost 3-1 |
| Brighton (H) | Lost 4-0 |
| Chelsea (A) | Lost 4-0 |
| Liverpool (A) | Lost 3-1 |
Indeed, even some brief concern from Salah over a sixth Liverpool substitution provided no respite for the Saints.
Merson meanwhile, did not hold back with his thoughts on the penalty conceded by Sugawara when speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, saying: “Sugawara’s handballed it.
“The ball goes over the top, Diaz is in a race with him, he gives him about three yards. Catches up with him and he [Suguwara] literally does it with his arm… I’d be surprised if it ain’t a penalty.
“It will be a penalty, he’s going over, the referee. When he goes over it’s only for one reason, and that’s to give a penalty, and it is a stonewall penalty.
“Oh my God. Oh my God. The defender’s running, he just goes like that [does obvious arm motion] like no-one’s going to see it. I mean it’s embarrassing. Oh look at that.”
Southampton season goes from bad to worse
Football Insider Verdict
It was a bizarre moment from Sugawara to concede that penalty, given he should have known that what he did would inevitably be spotted by VAR and lead to a penalty.
In doing so he ended any slim hope Southampton had of getting something from that game, meaning they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
They still have just nine points from what is now 28 league games this season, meaning they still need three more to avoid Derby’s record low of 11 points.
Those connected with the club will be desperate that indignity, but it feels as though it will be difficult for them to avoid it, and planning for a return to the Championship has surely already begun.
In doing so they will have to for some significant departures, with the likes Tyler Dibling and Aaron Ramsdale already being touted to leave Southampton.
Moments like this though mean it is hard to imagine Sugawara will attract the same level of attention come the summer transfer window.