Liverpool 3 – 1 Southampton
Liverpool took a major step toward the league title, extending their lead over second place by 16 points.
Despite facing a struggling Southampton side, the match turned out to be more intense than expected. Liverpool initially fell behind, raising concerns among their fans. However, a second-half attacking surge secured a comfortable win for Arne Slot’s team.
At Anfield on Saturday, Liverpool clinched a 3-1 victory in the Premier League. After trailing before halftime, they turned the game around within three minutes of the second half, thanks to goals from Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah. Salah later sealed the win with a composed penalty.
Heading into a hectic week with three crucial matches, Liverpool manager Arne Slot had called them “three finals.” By winning the first one, they strengthened their grip on the league title, now 16 points ahead of the second-placed team.
With 21 wins and seven draws from 29 games, Liverpool sits at the top with 70 points. Arsenal, having played two games fewer, follows in second with 54 points.
In their first meeting this season, Liverpool had also struggled against Southampton. They initially took the lead in November but conceded twice before halftime, eventually fighting back for a 3-2 win.
This time, at home, Liverpool dominated possession and played attacking football in the first half. However, Southampton shocked them by taking the lead.
A mix-up between goalkeeper Alisson and defender Virgil van Dijk gifted Irish midfielder William Smallbone an opportunity, and he slotted the ball between Alisson’s legs to put Southampton ahead.
Harvey Elliott, who had made an instant impact off the bench against PSG midweek, nearly repeated the feat in the second half. Coming on at the break, he forced a brilliant save from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale within two minutes.
Liverpool’s equalizer wasn’t far behind. In the 51st minute, Luis Díaz cut inside from the left and played a sharp pass to Núñez, who reacted quickly to flick the ball into the net.
Just three minutes later, Liverpool completed the turnaround. Núñez won a penalty after being fouled by Smallbone inside the box, and Salah calmly converted from the spot.
In the final moments, Southampton conceded another penalty after defender Yukinari handled the ball in the box. Salah stepped up again, scoring his 27th league goal of the season.
The Egyptian forward now leads the Premier League’s top scorers chart, seven goals ahead of Erling Haaland. Across all competitions, Salah has netted 32 goals this season.
With one “final” down, two more remain for Slot’s Liverpool.
They host PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg on Tuesday, carrying a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Paris.
Then, next Sunday, Salah and Núñez will battle for silverware in a true final—the League Cup showdown against Newcastle United.
