Liverpool produce classic away performance to sink Saints

Liverpool went into the game looking to move back into third place in the Premier League and they did just that with an almost perfect away day showing.

The ‘Reds’ got off to the perfect start after just six minutes when they took an early lead.

Southampton centre-back Wesley Hoedt failed to deal with a routine ball forward, allowing Mohamed Salah to race away. The Egyptian had the composure and presence of mind to draw Jack Stephens towards him before squaring for Roberto Firmino to slot home from just inside the box.

 

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Despite Liverpool’s early goal the hosts dominated possession and weren’t without chances of their own.

Loris Karius did brilliantly to deny Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after he was found by James Ward-Prowse, whilst ‘Saints’ new boy Guido Carrillo also had a sight of goal after meeting a War-Prowse cross from the right, but the Argentine managed only to head straight at Karius.

Liverpool were happy to cede possession and play on the counter, with Sadio Mane - keen to impress against his former side - going close either side of Carillo’s effort. First, his low strike from range faded just wide of McCarthy’s left-hand post, before he dragged an effort wide after being played in by Giorginio Wijnaldum.

As the half went on Southampton continued to threaten, with Ward-Prowse twice seeing far-post headers kept out by Karius.

-Sucker punch - 

However, with just three minutes to go until the break, the hosts were hit with a sucker punch.

Salah was given space to turn on the edge of the box and he exchanged passes with Firmino, with the Brazilian's return pass being a lovely back-heel flick, before sweeping past the onrushing Alex McCarthy to put daylight between the sides.

 

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That goal meant that Liverpool went in at the break with a two-goal lead and they never looked like surrendering their advantage in the second half.

Salah lashed over in the opening knockings of the second period, before Hoedt wasted Southampton’s only real chance of the second half when he got too much on Ward-Prowse’s free-kick from the left at the near post.

As the game moved towards its conclusion Liverpool continued to have the best chances on the counter, with Firmino being denied by a sharp save form McCarthy, before Salah could only find the side-netting with the follow-up.

Mane and Andrew Robertson both had effort bravely blocked away late on, whilst substitute Adam Lallana was inches away from finding the far corner after a neat one-two with Salah.

The victory sees Liverpool move back into third place in the Premier League, whilst Southampton slip into the bottom three.