Liverpool gained an eight-point lead in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-2, with a brace from Mohamed Salah, while Manchester City suffered a 4-0 loss to Tottenham, widening the gap at the top of the table.
For the first time in a long while, the Premier League leader has a “cushion” over its closest competitor. This is due to Liverpool’s comeback victory against Southampton by 3-2, combined with Manchester City’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham, creating an eight-point gap between the two teams. Liverpool now has 31 points, while Manchester City remains at 23.
Southampton surprised the leaders
At St Mary’s Stadium, the Premier League’s bottom team caused significant trouble for the league leaders. The first goal of the match came from Dominik Szoboszlai, who put Liverpool ahead in the 30th minute. With high pressing, the “Reds” recovered the ball following a defensive error by Southampton. Szoboszlai capitalized on the opportunity and shot into an unguarded goal, as both the defenders and the goalkeeper were caught out of position.
Following this, the home side woke up and imposed themselves on the match. In the 42nd minute, Adam Armstrong took a penalty. While Liverpool’s goalkeeper initially saved the shot, fortune favored the “Saints,” as the rebound fell perfectly for Armstrong, who made no mistake the second time.
In the second half, at the 56th minute, a quick attack by Southampton ended in a “moving penalty” for Mateus Fernandes, who unleashed a powerful shot to the bottom right corner of the net, leaving the “Reds” goalkeeper motionless.
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Mohamed Salah was the hero for the “Reds”
In the 64th minute, the “Pharaoh” began his show. After receiving a through ball and with an overly aggressive challenge from the rival goalkeeper, Liverpool’s number 11 simply redirected the ball, which slowly rolled into the unguarded net to level the game.
Liverpool kept pushing for the winning goal. It wasn’t until the 83rd minute that a penalty was awarded to the visitors after a handball by Yukinari Sugawara. Mohamed Salah took the penalty with perfection. Although the goalkeeper guessed the direction of Salah’s shot, the Egyptian’s superb strike ensured Liverpool’s comeback and eventual victory.
Cover photo: X (@LFC)
