Premier League leaders Liverpool opened up an eight-point gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City after they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 in a Super Sunday thriller at St Mary’s.
Goals from Adam Armstrong and Matheus Fernandes had seen Saints cancel out Dominik Szoboszlai’s opener – but Mohamed Salah’s double did the trick for Arne Slot’s side in wet and windy conditions on the south coast.
It was almost the perfect start for Southampton. With seven minutes on the clock, Armstrong chopped inside Ibrahima Konate and went to ground inside the box. The home fans were incensed, certain a penalty should follow, but neither referee Sam Barrott nor VAR Michael Oliver agreed.
Liverpool started in lacklustre fashion but tested Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy – starting in the Premier League for the first time in three months – on a handful of occasions, until they were gifted the lead.
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Dominik Szoboszlai capitalised on Saints’ dreadful decision-making at the back to put Liverpool 1-0 ahead against Southampton
McCarthy rolled the ball to Fernandes under intense pressure, Flynn Downes tried and failed to hook the ball clear, which allowed Szoboszlai to arrow a shot into the top-left corner. It was the seventh error leading to a goal from Russell Martin’s side this season – the most in the Premier League.
But, just before the break, Saints got themselves level. A lengthy VAR review confirmed Tyler Dibling was clattered by Andy Robertson just inside the box and, though Caoimhin Kelleher saved Armstrong’s initial effort, the forward tucked away the rebound.
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Adam Armstrong put Southampton level after a dubious penalty decision!
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Mateus Fernandes put Southampton ahead against Liverpool
Before the hour mark, the comeback was complete. Dibling won the ball in a tight space near the halfway line and lifted a marvellous pass into the path of Armstrong. He held the ball up, turned and squared for Fernandes to bound in and sweep home.
Then the momentum swung again. Ryan Gravenberch hoisted the ball forward for Salah, whose nonchalant finish caught McCarthy – who had been prompted to come racing off his line – cold, with the ball trickling past him and into the unguarded net.
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Mohamed Salah made it 2-2 for Liverpool against Southampton – but where was Alex McCarthy going?
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Salah converts from spot to put Liverpool back in the lead
And there was no way back for the hosts once Salah rattled a penalty past McCarthy after Yukinari Sugawara had handled when misreading a cross to the back post, which confirmed the teams would stay in their respective positions at the top and bottom of the Premier League table.
VOTE: Should Lallana have seen red?
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Roy Keane was adamant Adam Lallana should have been sent off for a foul on Ryan Gravenberch, but Lallana escaped with a yellow card
Prior to his substitution, Southampton’s Adam Lallana was booked for a foul on Gravenberch.
He’s not in control, he’s not even looking at the ball,” said Sky Sports‘ Roy Keane.
“They’ve looked at the character of the player, he’s not really a nasty type. Southampton have got away with one there. The more I look at it the worse it gets.”
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