Liverpool 3-0 Southampton: Match recap
By Chris Hughes
On a disappointing afternoon at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side dominated the Saints, with three goals and a clean sheet as reward for their efforts.
Despite publicly claiming that his side would ‘go out and attack’ Liverpool today, Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton side failed to register a single shot on target.
The Reds were dominant in all areas of the pitch, with a first-half brace from Mohamed Salah cementing Liverpool’s position after the first 45. Philippe Coutinho completed the faultless performance by tucking home an easy finish with just over 20 minutes to play.
The result means that after 12 games played the Saints currently sit in 14th, with a difficult run of fixtures still to come. A win for Stoke City on Monday against Brighton would see the Potters leapfrog the Saints, potentially leaving them just three places above the relegation zone.
Tottenham’s loss against Arsenal this lunchtime means Liverpool are now just a point behind the Spurs in fourth, meaning they could soon find themselves in a Champions League spot.
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The game began as a stop-start affair, with as many as eight fouls within the first 12 minutes of play. Nonetheless Liverpool enjoyed the better first 25 minutes, with Gini WIjnaldum’s shot producing a good save of Fraser Forster, who just ten minutes before had nearly gifted the Reds a goal with another blunder.
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The Saints got into the game from time to time with Ryan Bertrand being the liveliest going forward. Boufal was deployed in the hole and tried his best to creative but was often caught in possession.
With around 32 minutes on the clock, Virgil van Dijk produced a good bit of defensive work before Dusan Tadic tried running the ball out from the back and lost possession. Wijnaldum found Mo Salah on the edge of the box who beautifully curled it past a scrambling Forster.
Less than ten minutes later the Egyptian had his second and 14th of the season, as he was played clean through by a inch-perfect pass from Coutinho. The winger calmly slotted it under Forster before checking he was onside.
The second half offered precious little with the Saints continuing to fail to muster a shot on target. Liverpool went on to add a third with Coutinho pouncing as Fraser Forster spilled Roberto Firmino’s shot across goal.
Next up for the Saints is a must-win game against Everton this Sunday.