Liverpool took another huge step toward the Premier League title with a determined 3-1 comeback win over Southampton at Anfield, opening up a commanding 16-point lead at the top of the table.
Mohamed Salah was the star of the night, scoring two second-half penalties as the Reds overcame an early scare to keep their title charge on track.
The match began with Liverpool looking surprisingly off the pace, with Southampton sitting at the bottom of the table showing no fear. The Saints created several early chances, testing Alisson Becker through efforts from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Mateus Fernandes.
Liverpool, on the other hand, struggled to find fluency, with Curtis Jones wasting two good opportunities and the usually reliable attacking trio of Salah, Luis Diaz, and Dominik Szoboszlai failing to click.
Southampton’s pressure paid off just before halftime when a rare defensive mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson left Will Smallbone with a simple tap-in, silencing the Anfield crowd.
It was a deserved lead for the visitors, who showed impressive organization and intent in the opening 45 minutes.
Manager Arne Slot, serving the second game of his two-match touchline ban, made three bold changes at halftime and they had an immediate impact.
Within ten minutes of the restart, Liverpool found their equalizer. Luis Diaz whipped in a dangerous cross, and Darwin Núñez timed his run perfectly to beat his marker and smash the ball past Aaron Ramsdale from close range ending his frustrating 10-game goal drought.
Núñez remained central to Liverpool’s resurgence and was instrumental in their second goal. The Uruguayan forward was brought down in the box by Smallbone, and Salah stepped up to calmly convert the penalty, sending Ramsdale the wrong way. That strike not only gave Liverpool the lead but also saw Salah become the club’s third-highest scorer of all time with his 242nd goal in a Liverpool shirt.
Southampton refused to go down without a fight and nearly grabbed an equalizer through Cameron Archer, whose powerful effort was denied by a brilliant save from Alisson.
But Liverpool made the game safe three minutes from time when a VAR review confirmed a handball by Yukinari Sugawara in the area. Salah again kept his nerve from the spot, drilling his second penalty of the game and sealing all three points for the home side.
Despite the final scoreline, it was far from an easy night for Liverpool. Southampton’s spirited performance highlighted the unpredictability of the Premier League, but the Reds’ resilience and quality ultimately proved decisive.
With a 16-point cushion at the top of the table, though they’ve played two more games than second-placed Arsenal, Liverpool’s march toward the title looks unstoppable.
Their focus now shifts to a crucial week ahead, with a Champions League second-leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday and a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday.
