Salah's double sends Liverpool EIGHT points clear at the top

Liverpool moved eight points ahead at the top of the Premier League after coming from behind to defeat Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s, courtesy of two second-half goals from Mohamed Salah.

Salah flipped Sunday’s contest on its head after Mateus Fernandes gave bottom team Southampton an unexpected 2-1 lead on 56 minutes.

Fernandes scored on the counter after being set up by Adam Armstrong, who equalized for Southampton late in the first half after Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal.

On the other hand, Salah made it 2-2 just after the hour mark and then held his nerve from the penalty spot on 83 minutes, as a handball by Southampton replacement Yukinari Sugawara proved costly.

They remain at the bottom of the standings, five points below 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool, meanwhile, stay clear at the top ahead of next week’s crucial match against Manchester City, who were thrashed 4-0 by Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

How the match unfolded

Southampton had a similar scenario as they played themselves into difficulty on the half-hour mark. Fernandes collected the ball under pressure from Alex McCarthy’s throw, and Flynn Downes’ clearance fell directly into the feet of Szoboszlai, who curled home via the left post.

Three minutes later, Downes was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher. Still, Southampton had a wonderful opportunity to equalize when Andy Robertson tripped Tyler Dibling on the 18-yard line while in full flow, with the penalty given by referee Sam Barrott and confirmed following a VAR review.

Kelleher saved Armstrong’s penalty, but the striker converted the rebound to tie Southampton at halftime, and he played an important part in the hosts seizing the lead after the restart.

Premier League Top 4 Table

Position	Club	Played	GD	Points
1	Liverpool	12	+16	31
2	Man City	12	+5	23
3	Chelsea	12	+9	22
4	Arsenal	12	+9	22

Dibling’s crossfield ball freed Armstrong, who turned and set up Fernandes for a beautiful goal in the bottom left corner.

Their advantage, however, lasted just nine minutes as Salah superbly cushioned Ryan Gravenberch’s ball past the hapless McCarthy.

Liverpool then surrounded Southampton, and after Sugawara handled Salah’s inswinging cross, the Egyptian scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Salah rescues underwhelming Liverpool.

Arne Slot would be the first to confess that Liverpool was not at its best on the South Coast. The Reds have only surrendered six Premier League goals this season before Sunday’s meeting.

However, uncommon blunders were evident in their performance from the start. Southampton sought an early penalty after Armstrong tripped under Ibrahima Konate’s siege, but replays revealed that any touch may have occurred just outside the area.

Centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk, who is typically a picture of consistency, gave up possession with a needless flick seconds before Dibling converted a penalty for Southampton.

Fortunately for Liverpool, they have the star quality that enables them to produce success even when they aren’t at their peak.

While McCarthy’s placement was dubious, Salah showed outstanding awareness by allowing a dropped ball to go off the outside of his foot and into an open net for Liverpool’s equalizer.

Salah’s cross resulted in the penalty, which he scored superbly to put Liverpool back in ahead, and he almost had a hat-trick when he hammered Luis Diaz’s deflected cross against the post late on.

Salah currently has ten league goals, two behind league top scorer Erling Haaland, in what may be his last season at Anfield, and his form has placed the Reds well on track for a championship challenge.

Martin does not let up on the risk-v-reward approach.

Russell Martin’s strategy at Southampton is about taking chances and hoping to reap large benefits. While his squad has been visually appealing throughout the season, many observers have criticized their decision to play out of the back as foolish.

Boos rang throughout St Mary’s as Szoboszlai capitalized on a slew of mistakes in Liverpool’s defence to score the first goal.

McCarthy’s throw to a well-marked Fernandes and Downes’ choice to try to clear down the centre of the pitch rather than kick it out for a throw were both questionable.

However, in the second half, another fast throw from McCarthy - filling in for the injured Aaron Ramsdale - set up Fernandes’ goal, with the exceptional Dibling displaying tremendous vision to find Armstrong sprinting in behind.

However, on a day of ups and downs, McCarthy may have to accept some responsibility for Liverpool’s equalizer, as Salah brilliantly tapped Gravenberch’s floating ball past him.

Martin would have been pleased with a point, but another error cost his side when Sugawara flung out his right arm to allow a late penalty.

There was plenty to appreciate in Southampton’s performance. Still, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Spurs, and Fulham facing a gruelling run of pre-Christmas games, the Premier League’s lowest team must correct its flaws.

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