Salah-inspired Liverpool go eight factors clear after thriller at Southampton

Mohamed Salah’s brace catapulted Liverpool eight factors clear on the Premier League summit after coming from a aim all the way down to beat Southampton 3-2.

The Saints got here into the sport rooted to the underside of the league with only a single win to their identify this marketing campaign.

Regardless of Arne Slot’s aspect trying removed from their most potent following the worldwide break they have been handed a thirtieth minute opener.

Conor Bradley noticed his preliminary effort saved however the Saints did not clear their traces and a few terrible defending resulted in Dominik Szoboszlai capitalising to fireside house the opener.

Nevertheless, the Saints have been again within the sport earlier than the break when Andrew Robertson introduced down Tyler Dibling and Adam Armstrong netted, regardless of seeing his preliminary penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Southampton have been then dreaming of a shock victory when Mateus Fernandes fired them right into a 56th minute lead.

Nevertheless, Liverpool have been as soon as once more saved by Salah who fired house a sixty fifth minute equaliser after which accomplished the fightback by netting the profitable penalty.

Slot’s aspect are within the good place heading right into a busy Christmas interval. Liverpool at the moment are eight factors clear of second-placed Manchester Metropolis and stuffed with confidence heading right into a crunch tie towards Pep Guardiola’s aspect.

Salah’s double, which secured victory towards Southampton, summed up the sensation at Anfield in the intervening time. Every thing retains going proper for Slot and the forecasted hiccup within the street has but to return.

Liverpool followers might be praying that their talisman indicators a renewed contract at Anfield within the coming months.

The Egypt worldwide as soon as once more rescued his aspect from an unlikely place towards their basement opposition. Completely studying Ryan Gravenberch’s lengthy cross to prod house the equaliser.

There was then little doubt when Salah stepped as much as the penalty spot to web the winner.

Southampton: McCarthy 6, Walker-Peters 6, Harwood-Bellis 6, Stephens 6, Fraser 6, Dibling 7, Downes 6, Lallana 6, Fernandes 7, Onuachu 7, Armstrong 7. Subs: Archer 6, Aribo 6, Sugawara 6, Ugochukwu 6.

Liverpool: Kelleher 7, Bradley 7, Konate 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7, Jones 6, Gravenberch 6, Salah 8*, Szoboszlai 7, Gakpo 7, Nunez 7. Subs: Endo 6, Diaz 6, Mac Allister 7

30’ – GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 0 LIVERPOOL 1 (SZOBOSZLAI): Bradley has an preliminary effort saved by McCarthy. Southampton attempt to play the ball out from the again, however a sequence of defensive errors ends in Szoboszlai being handed the ball to fireside house.

42’ – GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1 (ARMSTRONG) LIVERPOOL 1: The Saints are degree from the penalty spot. Kelleher saves a poor penalty from Armstrong. Nevertheless, the ball rebounds again to the marksman who scores. The penalty was awarded towards Robertson after bringing down Dibling judged to be simply contained in the field.

56’ – GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2 (FERNANDES) LIVERPOOL 1: Dibling breaks the Liverpool defence operating onto a protracted ball earlier than turning and squaring the ball into the trail of Fernandes to web.

65’ – GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (SALAH): An extended ball which is completely weighted by Gravenberch is true on the boot of Salah who prods it previous the oncoming goalkeeper to equalise.

83’ – GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2 LIVERPOOL 3 (SALAH): Salah rifles his effort excessive into the online to finish the fightback giving the goalkeeper no probability from the penalty spot. The penalty got here from a Sugawara handball.