MOI Elyounoussi insisted he was "not scared" of Liverpool, but wishes Saints had been "a bit more brave with the ball" after they were pegged back at St Mary's last night.

Saints got off to a dream start, taking a lead on 13 minutes through Nathan Redmond.

But the quadruple-chasing Reds rallied, equalising before half-time when former Saint Takumi Minamino smashed in.

The turnaround was complete midway through the second half, when a combination of Kyle Walker-Peters and Joel Matip saw the ball loop beyond Alex McCarthy and into the corner, with the Liverpool centre-back credited with the goal.

Saints could not find a way back, slipping to a 2-1 defeat in their final home game of the season.

"Obviously you are always disappointed when you lose the game, I think especially when we started so well," Elyounoussi told BBC Radio Solent.

"It was kind of the same gameplan as we had against Arsenal in that home game (1-0 win in April).

"Obviously I would wish to have more of the ball, but the team come first so you do the job for the team.

"But sometimes when you run all the way down to the corner flag and defend, then win the ball and it's quite a long way up!"

He added: "But I think we started really well. We were brave with the ball as well. That's what I liked. And then after they scored, we started to be a bit more shaky.

"I think maybe the crowd were playing their role as well."

Asked if he was daunted by the challenge of facing Liverpool, given Saints' recent poor form, Norway international Elyounoussi added: "You still believe in yourself. It doesn't matter who the opponent is.

"Obviously we know they are in the Champions League final. It's Liverpool, but I wasn't scared of them and I wasn't even scared after they scored to make it 1-1.

"But I think we should still try to be a bit more brave with the ball, keep it a little bit better, because that's when we can hurt them.

"I think that's what was missing. We didn't create enough chances.

"Whereas against Arsenal for example, we had a few counter-attacks, (on Tuesday) we defended a bit too deep.

"But it is Liverpool. They are going to play you deep as well."

Saints, who can now finish no higher than 15th, round off their Premier League season at Leicester City on Sunday (4pm).

Daily Echo:

 

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