James Milner shouldered the blame for Liverpool failing to beat Southampton after Fraser Forster saved his second-half penalty to preserve a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Milner stepped up having scored seven spot-kicks from seven this season, but failed with a Premier League penalty for the first time since November 2009, after Jack Stephens was penalised for handball in the 64th minute.
The result edged Liverpool up to third, a point ahead of Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola s side have played a game fewer and Manchester United entered their match at Arsenal on Sunday knowing a perfect return from their remaining top-flight fixtures would see them also finish above Jurgen Klopp s men.
We probably did enough to win the game. The penalty is my fault, Milner told Sky Sports.
We had to get the three points and the fact we didn t get three points is definitely my fault. I have to live with that.
Forster approached Milner to share a few thoughts before the penalty, but the 31-year-old insisted that act of gamesmanship had no impact and he praised a goalkeeper he rates highly.
He s a top keeper, he s seen me take a lot of penalties unfortunately, he said of his former Newcastle United and England colleague.
You have to take that chance and I didn t do it. I have to take responsibility for that
I ve been around long enough to make sure that [pre-penalty chat] doesn t worry me.
I did what I wanted to do, I think I struck it well. I can t do any more than hold my hands up.
32 Liverpool had 32 shots against Southampton in the Premier League this season without scoring. Blunt.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Milner added: Southampton are a tough team to break down. We didn t play as well as we would have liked.
The penalty was a big chance and I didn t take it. We have to win our remaining two games and see if it s good enough.
Forster revealed some inside information from Southampton s third-choice goalkeeper Stuart Taylor – a team-mate of Milner s at Aston Villa and Manchester City – worked to his advantage.
I had a little chat before the game with Stuart Taylor and came up with a little plan Fortunately it went my way, he told Sky Sports.
I was obviously at Newcastle with James. He is a fantastic penalty taker and his record speaks for itself. Luckily it went my way.
We wanted to be as competitive as we could as a team and make it hard for Liverpool.
