Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down at half time to bottom side Southampton but they roared back in the second half to win 3-1 at Anfield on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side are now 16 points clear of second-place Arsenal but they have played two games more.
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Will Smallbone surprisingly put Saints ahead just before half time after a mix-up between Van Dijk and Alisson but Slot, who was sitting in the stands, made three half time subs and it changed the game.
Darwin Nunez scored then won a penalty kick a few minutes later which Mohamed Salah scored, while Salah scored another penalty late on to wrap up the win. Salah has now equalled Sergio Aguero as the fifth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history with 184 goals.
Liverpool move on to 70 points and are one step closer to the title, while Southampton remain bottom and on nine points.
Slot’s half time subs do the trick
Liverpool were still well on top in the first half but they were missing a spark. They were sloppy. Then they went 1-0 down after a rare mishap between Van Dijk and Alisson at the back. Slot looked angry in the stands. The Dutchman, serving his ban for being sent off against Everton recently, read the riot act at half time according to Salah and made three subs at the interval. Robertson, Mac Allister and Elliott all had a big impact, especially Robertson as he sparked Diaz into life and he set up Nunez for the crucial equalizer. Salah then scored two penalty kicks as Liverpool got the job done. It wasn’t pretty but in the end Liverpool won with minimum fuss, and that was crucial ahead of a big game against PSG on Tuesday. Slot is ruthless and efficient. Just like Liverpool have been all season. But this poor first half display may just have given them a reminder, if they needed it, that they need to work harder than the opponents each game to get what they want. Especially against a super intense team like PSG.
Liverpool vs Southampton player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Liverpool host PSG in a huge UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg on Tuesday, then head to Wembley for the League Cup final against Newcastle next Sunday, March 16. Southampton host Wolves next Saturday, March 15.
Liverpool vs Southampton score: 3-1
Nunez 51′, Salah 54′, 88′; Smallbone 45+1′
Liverpool vs Southampton live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Penalty to Liverpool… Salah scores — Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
Substitute Sugawara leans his elbow out and it’s a clear penalty kick. VAR asks the referee to take a look but that was obvious. Salah slams home. Liverpool win.
Salah buries penalty to make it 3-1 for Liverpool
A handball results in Mohamed Salah’s second penalty attempt of the night and for the second time, the Egyptian star blasts his spot-kick into the back of the net to secure all three points for Liverpool at Anfield.
Alisson denies Archer, then Salah prods wide
Saints have a spell of possession and substitute Archer is away on the break. He is just onside and his shot on target is pushed away by Alisson. At the other end a cross comes in and Salah is stretching but prods it wide.
Liverpool lead as Salah scores the penalty! — Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
Nunez goes down in the box after contact from Smallbone. Salah curls home the penalty kick. Liverpool have turned it around in three minutes. Arne Slot punches the air in delight up in the stands.
Salah’s penalty gives Liverpool 2-1 lead v. Saints
Darwin Nunez is taken down inside the box where Mohamed Salah steps up to the spot and drills his effort to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead at Anfield.
Nunez taps home! — Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
Luis Diaz charges off the left and beats Walker-Peters and drills a cross over. Nunez taps home. Good finish. Anfield is buzzing now.
Nunez tucks away equalizer v. Southampton
Luis Diaz spots Darwin Nunez inside the box where the Uruguayan striker finds the back of the net to make it 1-1 against Southampton at Anfield.
Brilliant save from Ramsdale to deny Elliott
Here come Liverpool! A corner finds Salah at the back post and he tees up substitute Elliott. He drills a shot low and hard towards the bottom corner but Ramsdale pushes it away brilliantly. What a stop that is.
Triple sub for Liverpool at the break
Elliott, Robertson and Mac Allister on for Szoboszlai, Tsimikas and Jones. Arne Slot is not messing around.
Half time: Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
Well, who would have predicted that scoreline at half time? Bottom club Saints took their one chance after Alisson and Van Dijk made a mess of things, while Liverpool looked a bit sluggish in attack. Still, you’d expect the Premier League leaders to come out flying in the second half.
Nunez booked after hacking down Walker-Peters and VAR checks for a red
Darwin Nunez shows his frustration as he hacks away at Walker-Peters. That was cynical. He is booked and VAR is having a look for a potential red card. The check is over and there’s no red, but Nunez looked nervous.
Southampton lead! — Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
A throw in causes havoc as Smallbone rushes into the box. Van Dijk leaves it for Alisson and he can’t clear it with Fernandes rushing in. The loose ball drops to Smallbone and he keeps his calm to slot into an empty net. Remarkably Southampton lead. The more remarkable thing is that Alisson was caught up in that mess after his heroics in midweek.
Smallbone stuns Liverpool to give Southampton lead
Anfield falls silent as a defensive miscue opens the door for Will Smallbone to slot home the Saints’ go-ahead goal right before the halftime interval.
Arne Slot is up in the stands as he serves his ban for being sent off against Everton
The TV cameras pan to Liverpool boss Arne Slot up in the stands and he looks okay. His side have created the better chances but Southampton are doing their best to make it difficult for his side and trying to be a threat on the counter.
Liverpool picking up the pace now
Gravenberch slaloms into the box but Southampton block before Ramsdale saves Alexander-Arnold’s shot. Nunez then has a shot which Ramsdale saves. Liverpool cranking up the pressure.
Bednarek is down with a head injury
Ryan Manning and Jan Bednarek clashed heads and the latter has stayed down. He is really struggling. He has to come off and Bella-Kotchap is on for the Saints captain.
Curtis Jones drags a shot wide
A cross into the box finds Salah but Bednarek defends well. The ball drops to Jones but somehow he drags it wide. He simply says to himself ‘how!?’ as he reacts to the miss. As expected, it’s all Liverpool early on.
Liverpool lineup
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Ugochukwu, Smallbone; Dibling, Gronbaek, Fernandes; Sulemana
Liverpool team news, focus
OUT: Joe Gomez (thigh – MORE), Conor Bradley (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Cody Gakpo (other)
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Ryan Fraser (undisclosed), James Bree (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Ross Stewart (fitness), Juan Larios (fitness)
Liverpool vs Southampton prediction
Saints have been quite unlucky in front of goal this season, scoring nearly 12 fewer goals than expected goals, but they’ve been nearly as fortunate in conceding almost 10 fewer than xGA. Liverpool had a tough midweek match in Paris at the Parc Des Princes that will serve as some measure of leveler but this is not the day to bet on a stunning upset — Liverpool have only lost once at home this season, and that’s the only time they’ve scored less than two goals at Anfield against any opposition. Liverpool 2-0 Southampton.
Liverpool vs Southampton preview
The Reds have the Premier League’s best goal differential by 14 and have only lost once in the league season. They can grow their title advantage over second-place Arsenal to 16 points for at least a day with a win over Saints. Arne Slot’s side were battered for vast swathes of their midweek Champions League last 16 first leg trip to PSG but somehow won 1-0 thanks to heroics from Alisson at one end and substitute Harvey Elliott finishing at the other.
Southampton could still be careening to the worst single season in Premier League history, now 2-3-22 on the season. Those five positive results leave them with nine points, 13 off safety with just 11 matches to go in the season. Saints can find some hope in their 3-2 loss to Liverpool at St Mary’s in Week 12, as it took a late Mohamed Salah penalty to help the Reds to all three points.
How to watch Liverpool vs Southampton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
