A late penalty from Mohamed Salah handed Liverpool a 3-2 victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds were involved in a topsy-turvy encounter at St Mary’s Stadium as they took the lead and then came from behind to secure a thrilling victory.
Dominik Szoboszlai handed Liverpool the advantage in the opening half, before a penalty from Adam Armstrong and an effort by Mateus Fernandes put the hosts in front.
However, Salah’s double in the second half ensured the points would return to Merseyside with Arne Slot’s men as they opened up an eight point advantage at the top of the standings.
Team news
Conor Bradley started for the Reds on the south coast with Trent Alexander-Arnold absent from the matchday squad due to injury.
Harvey Elliott, meanwhile, returned to the substitutes bench having resumed full training over the November international break.
First half
Liverpool dominated early possession, but it was Southampton who threatened to open the scoring first as Mateus Fernandes tested Caoimhim Kelleher’s reactions from distance.
Mohamed Salah responded swiftly for the Reds in the opposite box, forcing Alex McCarthy into action to his left following a swift Szoboszlai break, while Armstrong saw appeals for a penalty under the challenge of Ibrahima Konate waved away.
After a frantic opening to the contest, the game settled into a battle for the ball in midfield with Bradley and Konate both picking up bookings for fouls inside the Liverpool half.
Szoboszlai sliced a shot wide following a dangerous ball in from Bradley that was punched away, before Salah was again denied by McCarthy with a half-volley from a tight angle.
Adam Lallana also picked up a caution for a late tackle on Ryan Gravenberch, with the resulting free kick leading to a low shooting chance for Szoboszlai again, though his effort was saved once more.
McCarthy was being kept busy by the Reds in their search for an opener, as Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones were the next to test the goalkeeper's reflexes.
Southampton, however, were struggling to deal with Liverpool’s high press and it was a defensive error that led to the opening goal of the afternoon.
Flynn Downes was unable to clear his lines fully under pressure with Fernandes dispossessed after McCarthy's quick throw, the clearance eventually fell to Szoboszlai, who ultimately punished the hosts with a fine curling effort via the inside of the far post.
The defender, though, almost made amends immediately on the next attack, seeing Kelleher brilliantly push away his low shot in response.
Ahead of the half-time break, the Saints did level up proceedings after they were awarded a penalty for Andy Robertson’s challenge on Tyler Dibling on the edge of the box as the forward sprinted through.
Armstrong saw his initial effort from 12-yards halted by Kelleher, though was on hand to convert the rebound.
Second half
Both teams exchanged shooting opportunities in the early exchanges of the second half, while Gakpo was next to head into the book after an attempted break by Paul Onuachu.
Southampton, however, took the lead a little over 10 minutes after the restart with Liverpool caught short amid a swift break forward from the hosts.
Good work from Armstrong held the ball up and his pass found the onrushing Fernandes who tucked a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The Reds responded with a double change as Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz were introduced from the bench and it was the latter who almost had an immediate impact.
Nunez sprinted through on goal and squared a ball to the winger with the goal open but the cross was just behind his run with the No.7 unable to convert.
Liverpool, though, were level on their next attack as Gravenberch's lofted ball forward found the run of Salah.
The No.11 cleverly prodded an effort goalwards at the first attempt with McCarthy coming to meet the pass with the ball sliding into an empty net to restore parity.
The Reds again went close looking to press home the momentum, with Diaz seeing a header saved, before Gravenberch hooked the ball over the bar following a corner.
Liverpool were enjoying all of the ball and possession and a number of set pieces with Armstrong picking up a yellow for a challenge on Van Dijk.
The pressure finally told for Slot's charges, earning a penalty in minute 83 and a chance to take home the spoils.
Yuki Sugawara was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area and Salah duly stepped up to convert to spark wild celebrations in the away end.
The goal was enough to seal the win as the Reds controlled the closing stages to earn an important victory on the south coast.
via liverpoolfc.com
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