In a thrilling turnaround at Anfield, Liverpool showcased their resilience once again by overcoming a halftime setback to secure a confident 3-1 victory over Southampton. This win thrusts them an impressive 16 points ahead of Arsenal, just before they head out to face Manchester United.
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
Football enthusiasts were glued to their screens on March 8, 2025, as the Premier League clash unfolded. Here’s a closer look at how the game panned out:
Goals Recap
The match had its fair share of excitement: Southampton’s Smallbone opened the scoring at 45+1′. Then, Liverpool came roaring back with Nunez converting at 51′, courtesy of an assist from Diaz. Salah made his mark twice from the penalty spot at 54′ following an assist from Nunez, and later at 87′.
Team Dynamics
Having come off a grueling win in Paris, Liverpool’s lineup saw some fresh faces with Kostas Tsimikas, Curtis Jones, and Darwin Nunez gracing the field. Nunez took over from Diogo Jota, who shifted to join Federico Chiesa on the bench. The Reds were missing a few due to injuries: Cody Gakpo (ankle), Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez (hamstrings), and Tyler Morton (shoulder) were all sidelined.
First Half Insights
Liverpool exhibited their usual dominance right from the get-go. Their sharp passing and aggressive tactics granted Curtis Jones an early attempt, albeit slightly off target. A setback for Southampton occurred with Jan Bednarek’s injury, prompting an early substitution. Despite Liverpool’s hefty 78% possession, and missing three clear chances in the initial half-hour, it was Southampton who snagged the lead against the flow, courtesy of a defensive mix-up allowing Smallbone to score just before half-time.
Halftime Score: Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
Second Half Turnaround
During the break, even with manager Arne Slot being sidelined from the touchline, his impactful instructions in the dressing room clearly resonated. Liverpool’s strategy shift was marked by introducing Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, and Harvey Elliott at the restart. These changes paid off handsomely, as Nunez disrupted Southampton’s lead by scoring off a precise pass from Diaz. Moments later, he earned a penalty that Salah coolly converted, flipping the situation in Liverpool’s favor.
The trio injected much-needed energy, especially Mac Allister who solidified their midfield dominance. As the game reached its closing stages, a curious handball incident involving Southampton’s Sugawara, amidst Diaz’s pressure, led to a VAR-reviewed penalty which Salah converted, sealing the victory.
With these goals, Salah climbed the ladder to become Liverpool’s third-highest all-time scorer, surpassing Gordon Hodgson.
Key Stats Highlights
A glance at the game statistics reveals the underlying story:
Stats sourced from FotMob.
Player of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister, for his outstanding midfield presence.
Match Officials and Lineups
Referee: Lewis Smith
Liverpool Starting XI:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Quansah 89′), Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Robertson 46′); Gravenberch (Endo 81′), Szoboszlai (Elliott 46′), Jones (Mac Allister 46′); Salah, Diaz, Nunez (Jota 68′)
Unused Subs: Kelleher, McConnell, Chiesa
Southampton Starting XI:
Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek (Bella-Kotchap 19′), Manning (Aribo 83′); Smallbone (Lallana 71′), Gronbaek (Archer 64′), Ugochukwu (Onuachu 83′); Dibling (Sugawara 64′), Fernandes, Sulemana
Unused Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Welington
Looking ahead, Liverpool will face off against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, March 11, at 8pm (GMT). It promises to be an electrifying encounter.
