Mohamed Salah confirmed his class as soon as once more to present Liverpool the win regardless of a poor efficiency on in opposition to backside of the desk Southampton.
Southampton 2-3 Liverpool
Premier League (12) | St. Mary’s StadiumNovember 24, 2024
Targets: Armstrong 42′ Mateus Fernandes 56′; Szoboszlai 30′, Salah 65′, 83′ (pen).
1. World-class Salah offers Liverpool benefit within the title race… ultimately
With Man Metropolis dropping once more this was a chance for Liverpool to additional their benefit within the title race, however for some time it regarded like they might fail to take action.
Step up Mohamed Salah. Now undoubtedly the very best participant on this English Premier League regardless of a common wider lack of recognition of his high quality.
With Liverpool 2-1 down, a superb go excessive from Liverpool’s most constant midfielder this season, Ryan Gravenberch, gave Salah an opportunity.
Alex McCarthy rushed out to make it much more of an opportunity, however the goalkeeper’s resolution modified the kind of end required which wasn’t as straightforward as Salah made it look.
It wanted an ideal first contact to steer the ball into the web and the Egyptian offered it, following it as much as get the ball again for a faster restart. Profitable is the one factor on Salah’s thoughts regardless of the contract chatter elsewhere.
Then got here the chance to win the sport. The penalty gained received Liverpool hopes up however penalties nonetheless want scoring, and there’s extra strain on a doubtlessly game-winning spot-kick than there’s on others, however Salah tucked it away.
Truly, he did greater than tuck it away – it was extra convincing than that as he discovered the aspect netting with precision and energy as McCarthy dove the best manner.
It was one other event the place world-class Salah gained the sport for Liverpool, stepping up within the moments that make a distinction wherein such gamers thrive.
2. The left-back query
This sport confirmed why Kostas Tsimikas has arguably crept forward of Andy Robertson within the pecking order at left-back.
Robertson, top-of-the-line on this planet in his place at his peak, now appears to be struggling, and it confirmed when Tyler Dibling ran at him earlier than the foul that led to Southampton’s penalty.
It was contact and go as as to if it was inside or outdoors the field, however regardless Robertson checked out a loss as to how one can cope with the 18-year-old, and you could possibly foresee what was going to occur in that second.
He wasn’t the one defender who had such issues. Even Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk had been caught out on a few events, however it’s turning into more and more clear that the group can enhance on this space.
Tsimikas is an effective backup participant, however maybe he now might be the primary selection; which reveals why that is the place Slot and the recruitment group want to deal with ASAP.
3. Not getting the rub of the inexperienced however successful anyway
This sport definitely wasn’t a convincing efficiency from Arne Slot’s aspect and, on prime of this, a number of issues went in opposition to them that had been out of their management.
Adam Lallana was fortunate to remain on the pitch for a studs-up sort out excessive of Gravenberch’s ankle.
It’s the kind of problem that normally ends in a crimson card, as Liverpool themselves have skilled, however Lallana received away with a yellow.
The penalty for the Robertson problem is much less controversial, however nonetheless, on one other day a referee may need deemed it a free-kick outdoors the realm and the VAR wouldn’t have been capable of overturn that call both.
Certainly if the decision is that this shut, the referee ought to give the free kick moderately than one thing as massive and doubtlessly as game-changing as a penalty, after which use VAR to test.
Even then, Caoimhin Kelleher saved the penalty, and on one other day, it rebounds away from hazard, however because it was the penalty taker Adam Armstrong adopted up and put within the rebound which Kelleher virtually saved once more.
All of this got here collectively to present Southampton a foothold within the sport after they seemed to be slipping, particularly as they struggled to construct from the again.
Liverpool weren’t innocent and it was a poor efficiency, however a few selections right here or there, and a few bounces of the ball could make a distinction. None of them went Liverpool’s manner.
4. Want for enchancment
Liverpool won’t be able to depend on Salah on this method on a regular basis.
There have been loads of performances all through the group which have loads of room for enchancment, and it will be unfair to single out Robertson alone on this regard.
Up entrance, Darwin Nunez labored laborious as regular however was missing in different areas till establishing probability for Luis Diaz. Perhaps he must drift huge extra typically.
Diaz himself has been a bit off the boil after an ideal begin to the season, and, equally, Alexis Mac Allister has not checked out his greatest in current weeks.
It appears ridiculous to goal any criticism at a gaggle of gamers which have gained ten out of 12 video games within the league, conceded simply eight targets, and have lead on the prime of the desk, particularly for this time within the season.
If some issues are improved and the gamers begin to click on into gear on the identical time, Liverpool may defeat Metropolis subsequent week and take an much more convincing lead on the prime of the Premier League desk.
5. The Champions League simply received Actual – however must be prioritising Metropolis
Liverpool are in a snug place within the Champions League desk however face a brief turnaround between this Sunday sport and their largest European take a look at but in opposition to Actual Madrid on Wednesday.
They’re in place to go straight into the final 16, however Actual are at the moment solely on target for a knockout part playoff place so shall be extra determined for a win.
Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones left this sport early so it appears sure they may begin versus Actual.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured it appears Conor Bradley will fill in at right-back, however may Joe Gomez come into the backline as a substitute?
Some rotation is required, because it’s the Metropolis sport that must be prioritised with an opportunity to go 11 factors clear on the primary of December.
Southampton 2-3 Liverpool
