- Mohamed Salah's decisive brace helped Liverpool overturn a deficit to beat Southampton 3-2 in a gripping Premier League clash
- Salah equalised with a precise strike in the 65th minute before sealing the win with a late penalty, pushing Liverpool eight points clear at the league's summit
- Despite being bottom of the table, Southampton tested Liverpool with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Mateus Fernandes in a fiercely contested encounter
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah once again proved to be Liverpool’s talisman as his brace helped the Reds to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium. The win shot Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Southampton began the game as the dominant side, but Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. A defensive lapse by the home side allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to capitalise on a loose ball after Conor Bradley’s initial effort was saved, giving the Reds an unlikely lead.
However, Southampton responded quickly as Tyler Dibling was brought down in the box by Andrew Robertson, and though Adam Armstrong’s penalty was initially saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, the forward made no mistake on the rebound, restoring parity before halftime.
The home crowd erupted early in the second half when Mateus Fernandes fired Southampton into a 56th-minute lead, leaving Liverpool in surprise. The Reds’ response was swift and decisive, led by their reliable superstar, Mohamed Salah.
Salah brought Liverpool back into the game with a clinical 65th-minute strike, receiving a perfect through pass from Ryan Gravenberch and slotting the ball past the goalkeeper with precision. As the game entered its final moments, Salah delivered once more, this time from the penalty spot, to secure all three points for Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on the game in the post-match interview. Slot admitted that Southampton's comeback performance made the win even more rewarding,
“Over the moon is a bit exaggerating, but of course we are really happy. After an hour we were 2-1 down, and maybe that wasn’t a reflection of how the first hour went because we dominated the game,” Slot said.
He reserved special praise for Salah, whose brilliance turned the tide for Liverpool. “We always know we can trust him when things are difficult. The timing of his run and the way he finished was special. That goal gave us the momentum to dominate the last 25 minutes and eventually secure the win,” he added.
The result keeps Liverpool firmly in control of the Premier League title race, with Salah’s display once again proving his value to the team. For Southampton, it was another hard-fought game that ended in heartbreak, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the table.
Slot’s Liverpool will struggle this season as custom demands, Gary Neville predicts PL top 4
Previously, TheRadar reported that Gary Neville had wasted no time in revising his predictions for the Premier League season, making significant changes after just one game. The former Manchester United defender, known for his critical analysis, initially backed Tottenham Hotspur to secure a top-four finish.
However, following their opening match, he reconsidered Chelsea’s potential to overtake them.
