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Salah ends drought as Liverpool go top

Raj Mannick
·Head of Sport
Mo Salah scores stunning solo effort as Liverpool beat Southampton.
Mo Salah scores stunning solo effort as Liverpool beat Southampton.

Mohamed Salah scored a stunning individual goal, his first strike in six Premier League games, to help Liverpool overcome Southampton and regain top spot in the table.

Shane Long gave the hosts a shock early lead, firing past Alisson after just nine minutes.

Liverpool equalised through Naby Keita’s 36th minute header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross, although replays showed Salah was offside in the build up to the goal.

Keita could have had a penalty after being brought down by Maya Yoshida in the second half, but it was Salah’s goal that turned the game. The Egyptian broke at blistering pace from inside his own half before an exquisite finish from the edge of the box past the diving Angus Gunn.

Substitute Jordan Henderson eased any late nerves for the buoyant Liverpool fans with a close range finish five minutes from time to put the Reds two points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League table.

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Jurgen Klopp’s substitutions turned the game for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s substitutions turned the game for Liverpool.

Stuttering start for Reds

Southampton were in no mood to roll over for the title chasers and in fact started on the front foot. Firing out of the blocks, their early energy was rewarded in just the 9th minute. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg guided Ryan Betrand’s cross into the path of Shane Long, for the Irishman to score from close range and register his 50th Premier League goal.

Liverpool have found a knack of grinding out results despite lacklustre performances in recent fixtures, and that trend looked set to continue as they slowly built into the game. The front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino didn’t look at their best in the opening period, but Jurgen Klopp’s side remained threatening from the full back positions.

Indeed it was Alexander-Arnold who provided the moment of quality to unlock Southampton’s defence. Retrieving the ball deep in the Southampton third, the Englishman’s pinpoint delivery was met by an unmarked Naby Keita to head downwards past Gunn for his first Liverpool goal.

There was an element of controversy about the goal, as Salah was clearly offside in the build up play. Latching onto a ball over the top, the Egyptian kept play alive and Liverpool eventually scored after two previous crosses into the box failed to hit the mark. With the introduction of VAR next season, speculation that Liverpool’s goal would have been disallowed was dismissed by VAR officials, who stated Southampton had two phases of play to reset and defend before the goal eventually was scored.

Liverpool believed they should have been awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Maya Yoshida slid in on a rampaging Keita, but referee Paul Tierney was unmoved. The Japanese defender got the slightest touch on Liverpool’s goalscorer, but Keita looked to have knocked the ball beyond his control prior to the challenge.

With Jurgen Klopp looking more calm and measured on the sideline than his usual flamboyant self, the German shuffled his pack moments after the penalty appeal. English duo James Milner and Jordan Henderson replaced compatriot Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum.

That offered Liverpool stability at the back and whilst Southampton pressed on admirably, there was an air of inevitably over which team would score the next goal.

Salah’s solo stunner

For all his heroics last season, you would be forgiven for not suggesting Mohamed Salah as the next scorer, so poor has his recent form been in front of goal. The Egyptian had failed to register in his last six league appearances, nine in all competitions, but like a dormant volcano he erupted to life in spectacular fashion.

With ten minutes remaining Southampton pressed to regain the lead, before Henderson’s defensive header found Salah midway inside his own half. Last season’s Golden Boot winner had just one Saints defender in front of him and clearly had one thing in his mind the moment the ball landed at his feet.

The Egyptian drove with the ball the length of the pitch and, ignoring runners either side of him, Salah showed poise to match his pace with a sumptuous left-footed finish into the bottom corner form the edge of the penalty area.

The celebration from the Liverpool players showed the relief and jubilation that their star man was back in form at such a crucial point in the race for the Premier League crown.

With nerves settled, the away side looked confident and at ease, boasting 70% of second half possession. That dominance was rewarded five minutes from time when Henderson tapped in from Firmino’s cross following superb work from the Brazilian to open up space in the home penalty area.

The result puts Liverpool two points ahead of reigning champions Manchester City, albeit having played a game more. The Sky Blues are in FA Cup action this weekend, meaning Liverpool will stay top for the weekend at least.

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