Premier League leaders Liverpool opened up an eight-point gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City after they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 in a Super Sunday thriller at St Mary’s.
Goals from Adam Armstrong and Matheus Fernandes had seen Saints cancel out Dominik Szoboszlai’s opener – but Mohamed Salah’s double did the trick for Arne Slot’s side in wet and windy conditions on the south coast.
It was almost the perfect start for Southampton. With seven minutes on the clock, Armstrong chopped inside Ibrahima Konate and went to ground inside the box. The home fans were incensed, certain a penalty should follow, but neither referee Sam Barrott nor VAR Michael Oliver agreed.
Liverpool started in lacklustre fashion but tested Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy – starting in the Premier League for the first time in three months – on a handful of occasions, until they were gifted the lead.
McCarthy rolled the ball to Fernandes under intense pressure, Flynn Downes tried and failed to hook the ball clear, which allowed Szoboszlai to arrow a shot into the top-left corner. It was the seventh error leading to a goal from Russell Martin’s side this season – the most in the Premier League.
But, just before the break, Saints got themselves level. A lengthy VAR review confirmed Tyler Dibling was clattered by Andy Robertson just inside the box and, though Caoimhin Kelleher saved Armstrong’s initial effort, the forward tucked away the rebound
Before the hour mark, the comeback was complete. Dibling won the ball in a tight space near the halfway line and lifted a marvellous pass into the path of Armstrong. He held the ball up, turned and squared for Fernandes to bound in and sweep home.
Sky sports
