Anfield Spirit: Liverpool Overcome First-Half Setback to Defeat Southampton

Liverpool took another decisive step toward the Premier League title by seeing off relegation-threatened Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.

Though Liverpool controlled proceedings throughout and recorded a remarkable 4.11 expected goals (xG), it was the visitors who opened the scoring right at the end of the first half through Will Smallbone.

The second half, however, belonged to the home side. Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez pounced on a low cross from Luis Diaz, steering the ball in at the 51st minute to restore parity. Just three minutes later, Nunez won a penalty, which Mohamed Salah duly converted, handing Liverpool a 2–1 lead.

From there, the Reds never looked back. Another penalty in the 88th minute—again calmly dispatched by Salah—sealed a 3–1 victory. Liverpool now sit 16 points clear of Arsenal, although the London side have two games in hand. Whether they can close the gap remains uncertain, but the Reds’ momentum is undeniable.

2024-25, England - Premier League

Liverpool - Southampton 3:1 (0:1)
Goals: Smallbone, 45 (0:1); Núñez D., 51 (1:1); Salah, 54 (penalty) (2:1); Salah, 88 (penalty) (3:1)

Liverpool: Alisson; van Dijk; Konate; Tsimikas (Robertson A., 46); Alexander-Arnold (Quansah, 89); Szoboszlai (Mac Allister A., 46); Jones Cur. (Elliott H., 46); Gravenberch R. (Endo W., 81); Salah; Luis Díaz; Núñez D. (Jota, 68)
Bench: Kelleher; Chiesa F.; McConnell J.
Yellow Cards: Tsimikas 31; Núñez D. 45

Southampton: Ramsdale; Walker-Peters; Harwood-Bellis; Bednarek (Bella-Kotchap, 19); Manning (Aribo, 83); Smallbone (Lallana, 71); Ugochukwu (Onuachu, 83); Gronbaek (Archer C., 64); Fernandes M.; Sulemana; Dibling (Sugawara, 64)
Bench: McCarthy A.; Stephens; Welington
Yellow Cards: Onuachu 96