Liverpool 3-1 Southampton: Player ratings as Nunez & Salah star in comeback victory
- Liverpool came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 on Saturday afternoon
- Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah scored in significant win
- Reds move 16 points clear of Arsenal as they close in on Premier League title
Liverpool moved 16 points clear of title rivals Arsenal as they came from behind to beat last-placed Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League.
The Reds were expected to sweep the struggling Saints aside at Anfield but made life difficult for themselves as they entered the break behind. An almighty mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and midweek hero Alisson gifted Will Smallbone an open goal inside the penalty area, with the midfielder gladly accepting the invitation to give Southampton a shock lead.
But the Reds turned the encounter on its head within ten minutes of the restart. Darwin Nunez - who arguably could have been sent off during the first half for kicking out at Kyle Walker-Peters - dragged Liverpool into the lead, finishing Luis Diaz's excellent cross before winning a penalty for Mohamed Salah to convert.
Salah scored another spot kick in the dying embers as Liverpool extended their advantage to secure a hugely important victory in their bid to be crowned Premier League champions.
Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Alisson | 5.1/10 |
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold | 8.1/10 |
CB: Ibrahima Konate | 6.8/10 |
CB: Virgil van Dijk | 6.3/10 |
LB: Kostas Tsimikas | 7.5/10 |
DM: Ryan Gravenberch | 7.2/10 |
DM: Curtis Jones | 7.2/10 |
RW: Mohamed Salah | 9.2/10 |
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai | 6.6/10 |
LW: Luis Diaz | 8.3/10 |
ST: Darwin Nunez | 8.4/10 |
SUB: Andy Robertson (46' for Tsimikas) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Alexis Mac Allister (46' for Jones) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Harvey Elliott (46' for Szoboszlai) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Diogo Jota (69' for Nunez) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Wataru Endo (81' for Gravenberch) | N/A |
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Jarell Quansah, James McConnell, Federico Chiesa.
Southampton player ratings (4-4-2)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Aaron Rasmdale | 7.2/10 |
RB: Kyle Walker-Peters | 7.0/10 |
CB: Jan Bednarek | 6.8/10 |
CB: Taylor Harwood-Bellis | 7.4/10 |
LB: Ryan Manning | 7.6/10 |
RM: Tyler Dibling | 7.0/10 |
CM: Lesley Ugochukwu | 6.8/10 |
CM: Will Smallbone | 7.5/10 |
LM: Kamaldeen Sulemana | 6.6/10 |
ST: Mateus Fernandes | 7.2/10 |
ST: Albert Gronbaek | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Armel Bella-Kotchap (19' for Bednarek) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Yukinari Sugawara (63' for Dibling) | 5.7/10 |
SUB: Cameron Archer (63' for Gronbaek) | 6.0/10 |
SUB: Adam Lallana (73' for Smallbone) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Joe Aribo (83' for Ugochukwu) | N/A |
SUB: Paul Onuachu (83' for Manning) | N/A |
Subs not used: Alex McCarthy (GK), Jack Stephens, Welington.
Player of the match - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed