Liverpool stretched their lead at the Premier League summit to 16 points as Mohamed Salah scored two penalties in a comeback 3-1 win over Southampton at Anfield.
2024/2025 Premier League
3-1
Match Report
With Arne Slot watching from the stands as he served the second game of his two-match touchline ban, Southampton threatened an upset when Will Smallbone took advantage of a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot home just before half-time.
But Liverpool were a team transformed after the break, when Slot introduced Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott in a triple substitution.
Darwin Nunez stayed on despite seeing a kick at Kyle Walker-Peters checked for violent conduct and cleared by the VAR, and he tapped Luis Diaz's cross home for a 51st-minute equaliser.
Three minutes later, the Uruguayan was fouled from behind by Smallbone, allowing Salah to sidefoot into the top-left corner from the penalty spot.
A handball from Southampton substitute Yukinari Sugawara allowed the Egyptian to score another spot-kick two minutes from time, making the points safe.
While Southampton stay bottom on nine points, Liverpool hold a huge advantage over second-placed Arsenal, who face Manchester United and Chelsea in their two games in hand in the next eight days.
Data Debrief: Salah's best campaign
While Nunez deserves credit for turning this contest around early in the second half, Salah was the hero yet again for Liverpool.
He has now scored all nine of the penalties he has taken in the Premier League this season.
No player has ever taken more spot-kicks in a single campaign while maintaining a 100% success rate, though Cole Palmer had an identical record for Chelsea last season.
Salah is also up to 44 goal involvements in the Premier League in 2024-25 (27 goals, 17 assists), making this his best campaign after he managed 42 contributions in 2017-18 (32 goals, 10 assists).
The Egyptian is just three goal involvements away from tying the all-time season record, with Andy Cole and Alan Shearer managing 47 apiece in 1993-94 and 1994-95, respectively.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Match Event for Liverpool vs Southampton
17' Bednarek is unable to continue and he is replaced by Armel Bella-Kotchap
23' Fernandes hits from distance and it forces a save from Alisson
27' Nunez heads over from a Szoboszlai flick
30' Nunez swivels and drives an effort that forces Ramsdale into a stop
31' Tsimikas is booked yellow for a tackle on Walker-Peters
43' Jones heads back and Nunez is on to it but sends a looping effort over
46' Smallbone puts visitors ahead in stoppage time! Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
46' Robertson, Elliott and Mac Allister on, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai and Jones off
47' Elliott's powerfu strike forces a good save from Ramsdale
48' Nunez is shown the yellow card
52' Nunez levels the score for Reds as Luis Diaz assists! Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
54' MO SALAH CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT-KICK! Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
68' Jota on, Nunez off
71' Salah tries to divert Diaz's pass towards goal but can't quite get the accuracy
72' Lallana replaces Smallbone & the former Liverpool man gets welcome from Anfield
81' Eliott decides to shoot and the sliced effort drifts just wide
87' Salah nets double and extends the lead for Reds! Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz, Nunez, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch
Subs: Endo, Robertson, Jota, Kelleher, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Elliott, Quansah, James McConnell
Southampton XI: Bednarek, Ryan Manning, Walker-Peters, Ramsdale, Will Smallbone, Harwood-Bellis, L. Ugochukwu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Albert Grønbaek, Tyler Dibling, Mateus Fernandes
Subs: Lallana, McCarthy, Stephens, Paul Onuachu, Joe Aribo, Yukinari Sugawara, Bella-Kotchap, Cameron Archer, Welington