Liverpool survived an early scare against Southampton on Saturday, coming from behind to secure a 3-1 victory at Anfield, which extended their Premier League lead to 16 points.
The match saw a dramatic turnaround after Southampton's Will Smallbone gave the visitors a shock lead in the first half. However, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez played pivotal roles in Liverpool's recovery after the break, with Nunez scoring the equalizer and later winning a penalty that Salah converted to give the Reds the lead.
Salah then scored another penalty in the dying moments to bring his tally to 32 goals for the season across all competitions. The win edged Liverpool closer to their first Premier League title since 2020, as they continue their pursuit of a potential treble this season.
Arsenal, who sit second in the league, have two games in hand on Liverpool, including a crucial away trip to Manchester United on Sunday. Despite this, Liverpool's relentless march towards the title looks unstoppable, with Arne Slot’s side putting together a remarkable campaign after replacing Jurgen Klopp earlier in the season.
Slot’s men are not only targeting the league title but also the Champions League, with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Round of 16 giving them a firm grip on the tie. The Reds also have their eyes set on the League Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley on March 16.
The win against Southampton was crucial as Liverpool remains unbeaten in the league this season, with just one loss to their name. They now have only nine league games left to wrap up the title.
Southampton, on the other hand, remain bottom of the table and are still 13 points away from safety. Their struggles continue, with only 11 points to show for their efforts this season, which puts them on course to match the Premier League record low of 11 points in a season set by Derby County.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, Southampton showed glimpses of danger early on. After a bright start from Liverpool, which saw Curtis Jones come close with a shot and a curling effort, the visitors took the lead just before half-time. A mistake from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker allowed Smallbone to slot the ball past the Brazilian keeper, who had been brilliant in the Champions League win over PSG.
In the second half, however, Liverpool responded quickly, with Luis Diaz providing the assist for Nunez, who finished clinically to make it 1-1. Four minutes later, Smallbone conceded a soft penalty for tripping Nunez, and Salah stepped up to convert it confidently. Another penalty, this time for a handball by Yukinari Sugawara, saw Salah seal the victory with his second of the match.
Liverpool's performance was an emphatic statement as they continued their impressive title chase. With a sixteen-point cushion, the Reds look well on their way to securing the Premier League crown.
