Liverpool moved eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a win against bottom club Southampton. It was some way from the expected walkover, but even when behind, Arne Slot’s side looked to have the calmness and class to prevail.
Occasionally the Premier League generates a weird weekend, the sort which justifies another year of competitive facade. See, City can lose at home, heavily in fact. And the leaders can go to the bottom club and struggle. Truly, anything can happen. But let’s not go crazy, Liverpool will of course win in the end.
Their first half was spent in a patient trance of lateral passing, punctuated only by the occasional Southampton attack and frequent cheap turnovers. Yet Russell Martin’s side had things under control until their stressful habit of playing it out from the back in the Premier League with an excellent Championship squad brought predictable results.
Dominik Szoboszlai was the beneficiary of a Flynn Downes rick and found a sumptuous curling finish to open the scoring. Southampton equalised through Adam Armstrong, tucking a saved penalty beneath Caoimhin Kelleher after a VAR-powered quest to define the precise location of Andy Robertson’s foul on Tyler Dibling.
Dibling was the key man when Southampton took the lead early in the second half, playing a perfect cross-field ball as Southampton broke with speed. Liverpool’s retreating defence was dragged towards the recipient, Armstrong, which gave Mateus Fernandes an easy finish from his pass.
Ten minutes later Salah displayed his enduring brilliance with a marvellous first-time finish from Ryan Gravenberch’s long pass to beat the estranged Alex McCarthy. With seven minutes left Yuki Sugawara handled in the box to give referee Sam Barrott an easier decision for the game’s second penalty.
Salah went high and hard. McCarthy went in the right direction but was unable to divert the ball. Or the sense of composed entitlement creeping into Slot’s increasingly ominous team.
04:31 PM GMT
Thanks for joining us
That brings to an end our coverage of this thrilling contest as Liverpool went eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. Thanks for joining us.
04:29 PM GMT
Salah was ‘confident’ Liverpool would create chances
Speaking to Sky Sports, Liverpool’s Mo Salah said: “They were very important, especially after being down 2-1. It’s the most important thing to have won the game.
“Each game is different. They had a game plan and played very well. We managed to come back and win the game. I think we have a good game plan, we played our game and I was confident we would create chances.
“It’s great. Hopefully, we keep going in that direction. We have a game against them so hopefully, we win it and go 11 points clear.
“Man City is Man City. They have a bad time now but they have great players.”
04:27 PM GMT
Keane: ‘The goalkeeper was rusty’
Speaking on Sky Sports, Roy Keane said: “Southampton found a way to lose. Lack of confidence, lack of belief. The goalkeeper was rusty, he’s not played for three months, and you could tell.
“It’s a huge game next week. If Liverpool avoid defeat [against Man City] they are favourites [for the title].”
04:25 PM GMT
Stephens: ‘They’re really poor goals to give away’
Speaking to Sky Sports, Southampton defender Jack Stephens said: “We’re really disappointed with the result. They’re really poor goals to give away. We’ve come up short again and it’s hard to take. It’s frustrating to concede goals but a lot of our good play came from the situations as well.
“We’ll have to look at it back and evaluate everything. It’s about getting the balance a bit better. We get good moments from how we play. We’ve always got belief in this group. It’s been a tough start for us, we know that as a group. We’ve stuck together and that’s credit to the lads and the fans.
“We want to get the points to start coming and I believe they will. It’s only going to come from us believing. Credit to the group because it’s big. It’s really refreshing when someone else comes in and it doesn’t look any different. Everyone trains hard. I believe the results will turn.
“We’ve played against the best team in the league up to this point today and we caused them a lot of problems. We need to take the belied into Friday against Brighton.”
04:22 PM GMT
Salah key for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah’s two goals this afternoon mean he has been directly involved in 67% of Liverpool’s league goals this campaign. That is a greater involvement to his side’s goals than any other player in the league.
04:18 PM GMT
Ominous for Southampton
Southampton are the eighth different side in English top flight history to lose 10 of their opening 12 games of a single season.
Each of the previous seven all went on to be relegated. 👎 pic.twitter.com/PdHQbYRilx
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 24, 2024
04:16 PM GMT
Amorim’s first match in charge
Ruben Amorim is taking charge of his first match as Manchester United manager away at Ipswich Town. With kick-off less than 15 minutes away, you can follow our detailed coverage of this one here.
04:13 PM GMT
Szoboszlai pleased with Liverpool ‘reaction’ to going behind
Speaking to Sky Sports, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said: “They are a good team, good with the ball. They scored two quick goals but the most important thing was the reaction. We showed it very well and happy with the three points.”
Discussing his goal, he said: “We had a couple of meetings before the game and we know they build-up from the back. Sometimes they do well, sometimes they make mistakes and that was the case here. We pressed really well and got the goal.”
On Mohamed Salah: “Everyone knows Mo. He just has to keep going and I hope I play with him for as long as I can.”
On going eight points clear, he added: “It is a great feeling but it is the beginning of the season. We just need to continue and not think where the other teams are.”
04:08 PM GMT
Slot’s superb start
Liverpool’s victory sees Arne Slot equal the record for the fewest games to reach 10 Premier League wins as a manager alongside Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti, who both achieved the feat with Chelsea.
Newcastle in 1995/96 and Arsenal in 2022/23 have been the only two sides to win 10 of their opening 12 Premier League games and fail to win the title.
04:07 PM GMT
The top five as it stands
Here’s how the summit of the Premier League takes shape following Liverpool’s tenth win of the season.
Liverpool: 31
Man City: 23
Chelsea: 22
Arsenal: 22
Brighton 22
04:05 PM GMT
Salah saving the day
It’s Mohamed Salah who is once again the hero for Liverpool as his ninth and tenth league goals of the campaign turned the tie on its head.
Southampton certainly complicated things for the leaders, who many expected to enjoy a routine victory, but it’s individual errors proving costly once again for Russel Martin’s side.
04:01 PM GMT
Full time: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
Stephens picks up the yellow for a pretty cynical late challenge on Salah who is rightly unhappy about it. That is the final action of the match as Liverpool survive a huge scare to take the three points in a thrilling contest to go eight points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
03:59 PM GMT
90+7 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
It’s a nice ball in from Fernandes and a well-shaped header from Stephens but it loops just over the top right corner.
Moments later and Sugawara swings in a sublime cross from deep on the right that teases across the six-yard box but Archer can’t get anything on it. That might be it for Southampton as it goes out for a goal-kick.
03:56 PM GMT
90+4 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
Some industrious work from Endo and Mac Allister in the corner helps Liverpool to edge closer to victory. Southampton eventually win it back, can they mount one final meaningful attack?
Endo gives away a cheap foul on Aribo about 35 yards out giving the hosts a chance to swing one in.
03:53 PM GMT
90+2 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
Nunes makes way for Endo as Slot looks to sure things up. Bradley intercepts well before winning the corner. Valuable contribution from the full-back to run the clock down here.
There will be eight minutes of added time at the end of this one. Surprisingly, both centre-backs have gone forward. The corner comes to nothing but Southampton’s clearance goes out for a throw and Liverpool can take their time.
03:50 PM GMT
88 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
Sugawara looks to make amends for the penalty as he plays a squared volley across the six-yard box. The hosts appeal for a penalty for the challenge of Konate on Archer as the ball came across but it would have been soft.
Salah hits the post! As Liverpool counter a defensive header from a cross loops to Salah at the back post but his volleyed side-footed effort strikes the near post. He will be gutted to only have two.
03:47 PM GMT
85 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 3
It should be a hat-trick for Salah as is he is played in over the top on the counter. He cuts back in and a third for the Egyptian looks inevitable but he spoons his curling effort high and wide of the top left corner.
A member of the Southampton bench has picked up a yellow in the last few moments.
03:46 PM GMT
GOAL! Salah gives Liverpool the lead
Southampton 2 Liverpool 3 (Salah) A huge goal for the leaders! Salah steps up and fires it into the top left corner out of reach of McCarthy who went the right way. Liverpool are heading for eight points clear. That is Salah’s tenth league goal this season.
03:44 PM GMT
82 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
Southampton really can’t get out now and are just clinging on for the point at this stage and Liverpool do now have their reward with a penalty!
The inswinging ball is delivered in by Salah. It runs through to Sugawara at the back post and it looks like it caught him out as the ball strikes his arm.
03:41 PM GMT
80 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
A double-change for the hosts as Archer and Sugawara come on for Armstrong and Fraser.
Salah jinks inside Fernandes and is held back by Fernandes to win the foul in a promising position on the right. Szoboszlai’s outswinging ball eventually drops to Mac Allister who goes down appealing for the penalty but no doing.
03:39 PM GMT
77 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
Diaz goes on the outside and dinks a ball to the back post but Walker Peters is there to chest behind for a corner. The ball from Robertson is headed behind for another corner by Downes.
This one is cleared more effectively by Harwood-Bellis. Liverpool continue to keep Southampton penned though but they can’t find the gap this time through the compact home defence.
03:36 PM GMT
74 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
Van Dijk picks the pocket of Armstrong who leaves a foot on the defender to pick up the yellow and give away the foul in a dangerous position on the left side of the area about 30 yards out.
Szobsozlai’s free-kick is straight at the wall before Nunes’ header loops into the arms of McCarthy.
03:34 PM GMT
72 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
Mac Allister picks the ball up on the half turn in midfield and lets fly with a thunderous effort that whistles past the top left corner.
Southampton are dispossessed once again as they look to play out. Diaz looks to beat Harwood-Bellis on the outside in the box before firing with his left foot but the centre-back blocks well.
Bradley has an effort from the edge of the box before Liverpool win a corner that is poor and easily cleared.
03:31 PM GMT
Beautiful finish from Salah
Don’t have a great memory for these things but can’t remember many goals like Salah’s equaliser.
A beautifully executed finish, showing off his world class football GPS, but think part of the reason it seemed unusual was decision of McCarthy to come rushing out for a ball which never looked on. Got his positioning all wrong.
He has made plenty of crucial saves this afternoon but some of his work around that has been highly questionable.
03:30 PM GMT
68 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 2
Liverpool are pressing for the lead here and Diaz forces an excellent stop from McCarthy with a header from a corner from the right.
The keeper makes a mess of the resulting corner as he looks to punch clear but makes no contact. The ball drops to Gravenberch but his improvised effort goes over.
03:28 PM GMT
GOAL! Salah equalises
Southampton 2 Liverpool 2 (Salah) Salah scores for a fifth successive Premier League game! Gravenberch plays the ball over the top for Salah who connects with the ball on the volley to prod past the onrushing McCarthy who made the wrong call to come out for that one. What a game we have here!
03:26 PM GMT
64 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 1
There is a double change for the visitors as Diaz and Mac Allister come on for Gakpo and Jones.
Huge chance for Liverpool to equalise! Nunes was played in superbly into the right channel. He looks to square it for Diaz who looks to have a tap-in at the back post but it’s just behind the winger and the chance is gone.
03:24 PM GMT
Southampton rewarded for fast passing
Ball moved forward at speed (rather than passed around indefinitely) creates something: shock horror! Everyone involved in red and white played their part in that goal perfectly, especially Tyler Dibling, whose cross-field pass was the key component.
Liverpool’s defence still should not have been dragged so magnetically towards Adam Armstrong, though. Fairly easy finish in the end for Fernandes and Southampton are bouncing. Weather coming into game a bit more now too, Konate looking very uncertain underneath a high ball as I type.
03:23 PM GMT
62 mins: Southampton 2 Liverpool 1
It’s a fantastic ball from Dibling in that move for the goal – he has been excellent this afternoon. It’s looking like that goal is going to bring Liverpool changes.
Southampton threaten again as Fernandes dinks a ball between the centre-backs for Armstrong to run on to. There is a coming together between Kelleher and the forward and the decision goes the way of the keeper. Much to the dismay of the home fans and players.
03:20 PM GMT
GOAL! Southampton take the lead
Southampton 2 Liverpool 1 (Fernandes) Southampton break quickly from the Liverpool corner. Dibling is found at halfway on the right and plays an excellent crossfield ball through to Armstrong who can bear down on the penalty area.
It looks like the chance has gone begging as he cuts back but he feeds Fernandes who is breaking into the right of the box and he tucks home to give Southampton the lead.
03:17 PM GMT
56 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
Ugochukwu’s first contribution is a robust challenge on Gakpo that is penalised. After working it short, Gakpo delivers the inswinging ball from the left but Konate can’t get anything meaningful on his header at the back post.
Gravenberch reads it well to nick the ball high up the pitch on the right. He combines with Szoboszlai to enter the box and finds Nunes but his effort goes wide.
03:15 PM GMT
54 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
After asking for a stretcher, Onuachy eventualy limps off. Despite Archer looking the likely replacement it’s actually going to be Chelsea loanee Ugochukwu to come on for the injured forward.
As play resumes, Dibling picks it up and drives forward to the edge of the box. He is working across to the left side and lets fly from the edge of the box but he is slightly off balance and his effort goes high and wide. Really positive run though.
03:13 PM GMT
51 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
The corner is headed clear to Jones but his effort from the edge of the box is blocked by Jones. As Southampton look to break clear Onuachu has his heels clipped by Gakpo who goes into the book. That’s three yellows now for Liverpool after Bradley and Konate were penalised in the opening period.
That challenge appears to have done some damage to Onuachu and it looks like he is going to be replaced here by Archer. Another blow for Martin who has just one more substitute slot to use.
03:10 PM GMT
48 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
It’s Liverpool who enjoy the early possession of the second period. Bradley can’t bring down Salah’s ball and Liverpol’s early spell on the ball comes to an end.
Salah, inside the area, plays an audacious ball to the back post with the outside of his left. It finds Robertson who can cut it back first time on the volley but no one is there to tap home. Moments later and the Scottish left-back wins a corner from a similar position.
03:07 PM GMT
46 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
We are back underway at St Mary’s with Southampton kicking things off going from right to left.
Liverpool’s complaints to the referee were continuing as the players emerged from the tunnel.
There are no half-time changes for either side.
03:05 PM GMT
Grim reading for hosts but back in it
03:03 PM GMT
Defensive vulnerability emerging?
After not conceding in the first half of any of their first eight Premier League games under Arne Slot, Liverpool have since conceded four first half goals in their last four league matches. #SOULIV https://t.co/rosEK607Vr
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 24, 2024
03:01 PM GMT
Lallana lucky to avoid red
Lallana has now made way because of injury but replays being shown at half-time suggest he was fortunate to still be on the pitch at that point.
His challenge on Gravenberch, which he was given a yellow for, was high and reckless and very well could have been given as a red.
02:53 PM GMT
Half-time: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
After six minutes of added time, this chaotic and error-filled first half comes to an end with the sides all square.
McCarthy’s poor decision to roll the ball to an under-pressure Fernandes led to Szoboszlai curling Liverpool ahead.
Robertson’s trip on Dibling after a Van Dijk mistake allowed Southampton to level from the spot. Kelleher did manage to save Armstrong’s initial effort but the forward made no mistake on the rebound.
02:51 PM GMT
All happening at St Mary’s
It’s all happening.
Much sadness emanating from the home end after Liverpool’s goal. Not angry, not loud, just a mass resigned grumbling sound as Southampton play themselves into trouble at the back and gift the opener to a team they had previously held to pretty tame shots. Russell Martin has spent most of the half on the edge of his technical area, brooding, pointing, clapping. He went back to his bench and took a long sip of his water after the goal.
Much joy as the VAR review held up the penalty award and Armstrong kept his composure to sneak the rebound underneath Kelleher.
Much horror as McCarthy nearly gifts Liverpool another huge chance with some more stressful passing in his own six yard box.
No one quite sure how to react about six minutes of added time. Definitely enough time for another excursion towards Liverpool’s goals. Certainly more than enough for another playing it out from the back disaster.
02:48 PM GMT
45+3 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
There is a brief VAR check for a penalty for some tussling between Stephens and Nunes in the Southampton box but there is nothing doing other than a talking to to each player from the ref.
Some wonderful skill from Onuachu takes Southampton up the pitch and receives a hug roar from the home crowd. He finds Walker Peters who skips past Konate but Robertson can eventually sweep up.
02:46 PM GMT
The contact in question for Southampton’s spot kick
02:45 PM GMT
45+1 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 1
McCarthy gives it away once again gifting Liverpool the chance to reclaim the lead but Gakpo’s effort is blocked.
There will be six minutes of added time here at the end of an enthralling opening period.
02:43 PM GMT
GOAL! Armstrong equalises from the spot
Southampton 1 Liverpool 1 (Armstrong) Armstrong steps up and sees his initial effort saved by Kelleher, to the keeper’s right, but it comes back to the Southampton man who slots home on his left foot on the second time of asking.
02:42 PM GMT
40 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1
Penalty for the hosts! It’s poor from Van Dijk as he gives it away trying to pull off a back-heel. Dibling takes it on and looks to burst into the box but he is tripped by Robertson. The referee points to spot and Southampton have a penalty!
There is a check from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) with the contact right on the edge of the box. It is so tight but after a lengthy check, the onfield decision remains!
02:40 PM GMT
39 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1
Adam Lallana has pulled up and it looks like he will have to make way here. He is replaced by Aribo. Liverpool’s goal marked the seventh time that an error has led to Southampton conceding.
Aribo is involved early on and picks it up in the left of Liverpool’s box but his squared ball is cleared by Van Dijk. Konate has looked off it so far for Liverpool with much of Southampton’s attacking coming through his side.
02:36 PM GMT
36 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1
Nearly an instant response from the hosts! Dibling’s square ball across the box reaches Downes who spins smartly before striking low but Kelleher is down well to his right to turn it behind for a corner. A great stop from Liverpools second-choice keeper.
Moments later and Downes takes too many touches in midfield and is dispossessed by Nunes who wins the foul in the process. They need to cut out these sloppy mistakes.
02:32 PM GMT
GOAL! Szoboszlai opens the scoring
Southampton 0 Liverpool 1(Szoboszlai) Southampton shoot themselves in the foot once again. After claiming Bradley’s shot, McCarthy rolls it out to Fernandes who is under pressure on the edge of the box.
Jones nicks it off the midfielder before Downes’ clearance from inside his own area is weak and straight at Szoboszlai who curls one on his left foot into the left of the goal.
02:29 PM GMT
29 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
It’s Jones who now has space on the edge of the box and his effort is almost a carbon copy of Gakpo’s moments before as he goes for the near post but McCarthy is again a match for it and this time can hang on to it.
It’s all Liverpool now with Southampton penned into their own area. The next move comes to an end as Bradley’s effort from the edge of the box on his weaker foot is tame and easy for McCarthy.
02:27 PM GMT
27 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Robertson’s initial delivery from the free-kick is half-cleared but Fernandes gives it away on the edge of the box presenting the chance for Szoboszlai but his snatched effort from just inside the area is comfortable in the end for McCarthy.
After a Southampton attack, Liverpool have space to break into. It’s worked out to Gakpo on the left who cuts in and takes aim at the near post but McCarthy gets down well to turn it behind for a corner.
02:23 PM GMT
24 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo delivers another excellent ball into the box and this time Fraser gets caught underneath it. It reaches Salah who controls it and quickly lets fly but McCarthy is able to spread himself to make the save from close range.
Southampton are just starting to struggle to get out now with Liverpool starting to turn the screw. Adam Lallana goes strongly into the challenge with Gravenberch as he slightly over-runs it and picks up the yellow.
02:20 PM GMT
20 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo, who has been quiet so far, cuts in and produces a sublime inswinging ball towards Salah at the back post but Fraser does superbly to clear in the nick of time.
Nunes looks to switch play out to the right but his pass goes wayward and it is met by jeers from the home fans. That sums up Liverpool’s sluggish start.
02:18 PM GMT
19 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Salah gives it away to Onuachu who looks to beat Konate on the outside. The centre back shoves the forward to the floor and picks up Liverpool’s second yellow in these opening stages. Unnecessary really on the halfway line.
Van Dijk looks for a raking ball over the top for Robertson making the forward run but it looks like the wind got a hold of it as it runs out for a goal-kick.
02:16 PM GMT
Enthusiastic start from hosts
Southampton have started reasonably, with plenty of enthusiasm for the efforts of Dibling and Fernandes in particular. Both have shown willingness to break the lines, playing some decent passes and running forward on the ball positively at times too.
Crowd relatively energised but not exactly rabid. You can’t blame them, this has been the template for their season: start well, attack with promise, fail to make it count then pay for it later.
02:15 PM GMT
15 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Salah feeds Bradley on the overlap into the right of the box but his cross is too close to McCarthy who punches clear. It falls to Szoboszlai but his half-volley from the edge of the area goes way over.
02:13 PM GMT
13 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Onuachu who is making his first start of the season has proved his worth on a couple of occasions already, holding the ball up well up front.
Bradley brings down Lallana who sold him with a spin in midfield and the full-back picks up the first yellow card of the afternoon.
02:11 PM GMT
11 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Robertson puts in another nice cross from the left that finds Salah at the back post but instead of going with his head he opts for the side-footed volley but can’t get his foot over it and it balloons over.
Downes drives forward fantastically before turning back and passing out wide to… no one. Perhaps he mistook a fan for a team-mate.
02:09 PM GMT
9 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Southampton are screaming for a penalty! Armstrong pops it between the legs of Konate just to the left of the box before the centre-back shoves the forward gently in the back, sending him to the floor.
The referee waves it away and replays show that contact was probably just outside the area. Southampton win the corner though but it gets caught up in the wind and sails over the area.
02:06 PM GMT
7 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool break well as Szoboszlai drives through the centre of the pitch. As he approaches the 18-yard-box he feeds Salah to his right. The winger looks to curl one into the far corner first time but it’s too close to McCarthy who parries behind for a corner.
The keeper then claims the resulting set piece with ease.
02:05 PM GMT
5 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
The first threat from Liverpool comes as Robertson sweeps in a dangerous ball from the right but Downes does well to head clear ahead of Nunes before Lallana, against his former side, wins the foul.
Southampton then have their first effort as Harwood-Bellis breaks the line with an excellent pass into Fernandes. He turns before setting himself and letting fly from the edge of the box but his low strike is straight at Kelleher. Nice move though.
02:02 PM GMT
3 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
It looks as if Southampton are starting with a back three/five with Downes dropping in as an extra centre back with Walker-Peters and Fraser as wing-backs.
Southampton are, once again, showing their intentions of playing out from the back despite Liverpool pressure. McCarthy will not be as comfortable in that role as the injured Ramsdale.
02:00 PM GMT
1 min: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0
We are underway at St Mary’s with Liverpool and Szoboszlai kicking off going from right to left.
Samuel Barrott is the man in the middle.
01:58 PM GMT
Players make their way out of the tunnel
The players have emerged from the tunnel into the blustery conditions on the South Coast. Will the wind have a big impact on proceedings this afternoon?
01:56 PM GMT
Kick-off approaching
We are less than five minutes away from kick-off here at St Mary’s Stadium. Will Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points or will Southampton find an unlikely second win of the season?
01:52 PM GMT
Applause for visiting skipper
Sustained applause from the home fans in the corner towards the Liverpool players warming up in front of them.
Some chatter that home end will be full of Liverpool fans today as many season ticket holders have elected to sell ticket to avoid seeing a drubbing, but in fact it’s clapping directed towards Virgil van Dijk.
No sign yet of travelling support singing a nice song about Adam Lallana, but the afternoon is young.
01:49 PM GMT
Final thoughts from Martin
Southampton manager Russell Martin is relishing the challenge of taking on Liverpool after the “tough” challenge of securing promotion that his side “worked so hard” for.
01:46 PM GMT
Liverpool eye-up 11 point advantage
Should Liverpool pick up three points this afternoon, only Manchester United in 1993/94 would have had a bigger lead at this stage of the campaign.
Victory would also provide the chance to establish an 11-point lead over Manchester City as they host the champions next Sunday.
Asked yesterday whether 11 points would be too many to claw back, Pep Guardiola said: “Yes, it’s true.”
01:42 PM GMT
Potential banana skin for leaders?
Afternoon from a blustery St Mary’s. Potentially an unexpected deviation from Russell Martin’s usual ideals here, he has taken one look at Storm Bert and stuck the big man up front. 6’7” Paul Onuahcu gets his first start of the season in place of benched Cameron Archer.
Asked a few Saints fans en route what their hopes were today, the consensus was anything less than a 4-0 defeat would be a good result. A chance, perhaps, that Liverpool may have their eyes on the games that follow. Real Madrid, Man City, Newcastle and Everton are their next four, so perhaps some mild banana skin potential here?
Then you look at the table, see the visitors at the top and the home side at the bottom with fewer goals in total than Mo Salah and think “probably not”.
01:40 PM GMT
Last meeting at St Mary’s
The two sides last met at St Mary’s in the Premier League on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign and it was a thrilling contest ending in a 4-4 draw.
The visitors took a two-goal lead before Southampton turned the tie on its head to lead 4-2 but they too blew their two-goal advantage as the sides eventually shared the spoils.
01:36 PM GMT
Windy conditions in Southampton
As for much of the country this weekend feeling the effects of Storm Bert, it set to be a blustery one in Southampton which will undoubtedly make conditions trickier for both sets of players.
01:32 PM GMT
Sensational Salah
Mohamed Salah has scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in over three years.
In doing so he has become the first player across Europe’s biggest five leagues this season to have registered double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions.
The Egyptian has been involved in 14 Premier League goals this season – scoring eight and providing six assists – the most of any player in the division.
As a result, he has been directly involved in 67% of Liverpool’s league goals this campaign.
After setting up Darwin Nunes for the opener against Aston Villa before sealing the win with his side’s second, Salah has now scored and assisted in 35 Premier League games – one shy of Wayne Rooney’s record.
01:28 PM GMT
Slot: ‘City dropping points doesn’t mean that much’
Speaking to Sky Sports, Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said: “The dropping of points of City doesn’t mean that much for us. We have to come here and get a result and actually that should be a win.
“But it’s not going to be easy because Southampton, although they are 20th place, in my opinion have played much better than the league table shows us.”
01:25 PM GMT
Liverpool’s lightning start
A win today for Liverpool would see Arne Slot equal the record for the fewest games to reach 10 Premier League wins as a manager alongside Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti, who both achieved the feat with Chelsea.
Newcastle in 1995/96 and Arsenal in 2022/23 have been the only two sides to win 10 of their opening 12 Premier League games and fail to win the title.
01:20 PM GMT
The scene at St Mary’s
01:15 PM GMT
Southampton’s rocky return to the top flight
Defeat this afternoon would see Southampton become just the eighth team in English top-flight history to lose 10 of their opening 12 fixtures. The previous seven all went on to be relegated.
Russell Martin’s side have scored just seven league goals this season, which is the lowest of any side in the Premier League and one fewer than Mohamed Salah’s tally so far.
01:10 PM GMT
Martin full of praise for Slot and Liverpool
Southampton manager Russell Martin has said Liverpool are “the best team in the country at the moment on current form”.
Discussing Arne Slot’s start, he added: “When you go into a club that’s built on something for so long with top players that have bought into that, he hasn’t changed too much. It’s the best management at that point to continue some of the brilliant things they were good at, and put his own spin on it, which he has done.”
On his side’s chances today, he said: “Teams have shown in recent weeks that you can pick up big results against big teams and good opposition. We’re going to have to at some point if we’re going to achieve what we want to achieve.”
01:05 PM GMT
Slot on ‘unlucky’ Southampton
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says Southampton “have been unlucky” so far this season.
“They are bottom of the league but they don’t play at all like this,” Slot said. “Their playing style is intriguing.
“I would say they are much more than a capable team. They have shown that they are very, very capable of playing teams like us.
“They have been unlucky but their style has been excellent. They could have got a result in almost every game they have played.
“Everyone is talking about playing Real Madrid and then Manchester City but, in my opinion, Southampton will be difficult as well.”
01:00 PM GMT
Injury news
Southampton are without Aaron Ramsdale and Jan Bednarek, who both suffered injuries during the international break.
Ryan Fraser and Flynn Downes are fit enough to return to the squad as they come in from the start, but Ross Stewart, Gavin Bazunu and Will Smallbone remain out.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is not yet back in training following a hamstring problem.
Virgil van Dijk returned home early from international duty but is fit enough to start, while Alisson, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa remain sidelined.
12:56 PM GMT
Those line-ups in full
Southampton: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens; Fraser, Downes, Lallana, Fernandes, Dibling; Armstrong, Onuachu.
Subs: Bree, Brereton Diaz, Aribo, Lumley, Archer, Sugawara, Ugochukwu, Manning, Kamaldeen.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Nunes, Gakpo.
Subs: Diaz, Davies, Endo, Gomez, Jaros, Morton, Quansah, Mac Allister, Elliot.
12:52 PM GMT
Slot makes three changes
There are three changes to the Liverpool team that beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield last time out Arne Slot brings in Bradley to replace the injured Alexander-Arnold while Gakpo and Szoboszlai come in for Diaz and Mac Allister.
12:48 PM GMT
Five changes for Southampton
Russell Martin makes five changes to the side that lost 2-0 away to Wolves before the international break as McCarthy and Fraser come in for the injured Ramsdale and Bednarek while Downes, Dibling and Onuachu also replace Manning, Aribo and Archer.
12:45 PM GMT
Preview: Liverpool look to go eight points clear
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Southampton vs Liverpool from the Premier League as Arne Slot’s side look to extend their lead at the summit of the table to eight points. Despite the boost of Pep Guardiola putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal this week, second-placed Manchester City failed to close the gap on leaders Liverpool as they were thumped 4-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.
Having won nine of their opening 11 league fixtures this season, Liverpool will be confident of a tenth this afternoon as they travel to St Mary’s Stadium to take on a Southampton side who have, conversely, lost nine of their opening 11 ties, leaving them at the foot of the table. Liverpool are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions with the only dropped points in that run coming in their visit to the Emirates Stadium.
While Slot has instantly established his Liverpool side as one of the most well-functioning outfits in Europe, their phenomenal start to the season has also been down to the individual brilliance of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s hand in both of Liverpool’s goals in their 2-0 win over Aston Villa before the international break saw him become the first player in Europe’s top five leagues this campaign to reach double figures for goals and assists in all competitions.
For Russell Martin and Southampton, points and results are becoming increasingly imperative with a four-point gap having been established between themselves and both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town in 18th and 19th, respectively. They will look to draw inspiration from their last home outing which saw them beat Everton 1-0 to clinch their first three points of the season.
