Mohamed Salah scored a brace as Liverpool secured a big win to beat Southampton 3-2 on Sunday and move eight points to the top of the Premier League table.
Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai’s curler after a mistake from the Saints but Adam Armstrong drew the home side level before half-time. He scored a rebound after Caoimhin Kelleher had saved his initial penalty.
Poor protection after a Southampton counterattack allowed Mateus Fernandes to make it 2-1 in the 56th minute. But Mohamed Salah was once again the guy to watch, as he took advantage of an Alex McCarthy error to draw the Reds level. .
And after Yukinari Sugawara struck in his own area, Salah missed a penalty to give him three important points that fuel Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League title this season.
Express Sport evaluates and lists Liverpool after their victory. . .
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Yet again dependable. Produced a good save from Flynn Downes in the first half and stopped Armstrong’s penalty but was unfortunate the rebound fell the striker’s way.
Conor Bradley – 6
He showed a smart connection with Salah on the overlap. However, he was to blame for poor goal protection by Mateus Fernandes, in which he and his teammates were trapped looking for the ball. Largely forged in the tackle. Reserve.
Ibrahima Konate – 5
Survived an early penalty shout but was lacklustre in a first half in which he gave the ball away cheaply on several occasions. Was booked for a clumsy foul on Paul Onuachu who he had a tough battle with. Better second half.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
He lost the ball needlessly before Southampton’s penalty but stepped up in the second half while helping Liverpool increase the pressure. He won the ball in an unusual way and filled the area in a matter of moments.
Andy Robertson – 5
He got ahead, but his deliveries were disappointing at times. He fouled Tyler Dibbling for the penalty even though the foul appeared to be outside the area. He turned in at the far post for a late chance and was lucky that Konate took care of Sugawara.
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Curtis Jones – 7
Pressed well for the opening goal to force Southampton to give up possession and completed every single one of his 56 passes though not as much of a creative influence compared to previous outings. Subbed off early.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
Good on the ball but occasionally poor off it against the Southampton counter-attack. It was his ball that created the confusion for Salah’s equaliser but he missed a good chance to make it 3-2. Was often the man playing the first pass that led to a Liverpool chance.
Mohamed Salah – 8
In the first half he took three shots, but the home team otherwise kept him quiet. It seemed like the same story in the second half until he made the most of McCarthy’s mistake and scored the penalty to win the game. His hat-trick was only denied by the inside of the post. Reprimanded for taking off his shirt.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
He pressed brilliantly and implemented a nice curling finish for the first goal. He put Salah on purpose to make it 4-2, but the Egyptian curled over the crossbar. I deserve to have done more in the challenge after Dibling for the goal that made it 2-1 at Southampton, but still better than some of his recent games.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Some clever crossing in the first half, adding a very clever ball for an early chance from Salah, but the quality of those deliveries dropped in the second half. Maybe it’s a shame you got addicted. Reserve.
Darwin Núñez – 5
Hardly worried in the first half, apart from a fight without the ball with Jack Stephens. He livened up the second half and almost gave Luis Díaz a hand with a low cross, but his passes were also a little out of place or his positioning was not entirely correct, as shown by a counter-attack late on an offside. .
Luis Diaz – 7
I made it 2-2 less than a minute after coming on, but I completely missed the ball. He forced a very good save from McCarthy with a header from a corner and gave power to Liverpool’s attack.
Alexis MacAllister – 6
He hit one just over the crossbar and helped Liverpool delay the game.
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