New Delhi: Liverpool continued their dominating spell as they edged past a resilient Southampton 3-2 at St. Mary’s Stadium. The league leaders were given a stern test by the bottom-placed Saints, who showed remarkable spirit and attacking intent. Despite falling behind twice, Liverpool’s quality and composure in key moments shone through, with Mohamed Salah’s late penalty sealing a dramatic win. Southampton, on the other hand, were left ruing costly errors that undermined their promising display.
Saints defy the odds
Southampton started with admirable intensity undeterred by their position at the bottom of the table. They pressed high and played with confidence, even earning an early penalty shout when Adam Armstrong went down under Ibrahima Konaté’s challenge. However, replays confirmed the incident was outside the box leaving Southampton frustrated.
Liverpool gradually grew into the game with Alex McCarthy making a vital save to deny Mohamed Salah early on. However, the Saints’ resilience faltered in the 30th minute when Mateus Fernandes’ misstep near the box allowed Flynn Downes to pounce and set up Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder made no mistake and curled the ball into the net to put Liverpool ahead.
Southampton refused to back down and found their equalizer just before half-time. Tyler Dibling dispossessed Virgil van Dijk and drew a foul from Andy Robertson on the edge of the penalty box. While Adam Armstrong’s initial penalty was saved by Caoimhín Kelleher, he converted the rebound to send the sides into the break level at 1-1.
Level at the break. #SOULIV pic.twitter.com/W0vwDIzo43
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 24, 2024
Liverpool’s late surge secures victory
The second half saw Southampton carry their momentum forward. Their attacking intent paid dividends when Dibling once again led a brilliant counter-attack setting up Mateus Fernandes to put the Saints ahead for the first time in the game.
However, Liverpool responded like true title contenders. A long ball from Ryan Gravenberch caught Southampton’s defense off-guard and Mohamed Salah made no mistake and expertly finished past a stranded McCarthy to level the scores.
Salah delivered another decisive blow in the 83rd minute, converting a penalty after Yukinari Sugawara handled his cross inside the box. The Egyptian came close to completing his hat-trick late on but his effort struck the post.
While Southampton showed tremendous promise their errors proved too costly against the table toppers. The Reds’ ability to capitalize on key moments extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points, further asserting their title credentials.
GET IN THERE!!!!! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fTxm2ipYpo
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 24, 2024
Player of the Match
🌟 | PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Mohamed Salah v Southampton:
👌 45 touches
⚽️ 2 goals
🎯 7 shots/4 on target (1.64 xG)
🔑 1 key pass
💨 2/3 successful dribbles
📈 9.0 Sofascore Rating
Another Liverpool win (3–2), another standout display by their Egyptian superstar! 🇪🇬💫#SOULIV pic.twitter.com/xfJDGZaMFs
— Sofascore Football (@SofascoreINT) November 24, 2024
Mohamed Salah once again showcased why he remains Liverpool’s talisman as he delivered a match-winning performance against Southampton. The Egyptian King reached a historic milestone, scoring his 100th away goal in the Premier League, a testament to his incredible consistency and goal-scoring prowess.
With 45 touches, Salah remained heavily involved throughout the game recording seven shots, four of which were on target and generated an impressive 1.64 xG (expected goals). His dribbling ability was on full display completing two of three attempts while his vision also contributed to Liverpool’s attack with a key pass. Salah has cemented his role as the driving force behind Liverpool’s success.
The Reds outlast Southampton in a thrilling 3-2 win, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
