Before kick-off, Liverpool fans sung about winning the Premier League. By the hour mark, that was looking less likely — and then up stepped Mohamed Salah.
Arne Slot has wanted to ignore any conversation about silverware so far this season but his argument that it is still early in the campaign is starting to subside. It would take a remarkable turnaround for Liverpool not to top the pile at Christmas from here — by then, the possibility will be unavoidable.
“It is a great feeling but it is the beginning of the season,” Dominik Szoboszlai told the BBC, very much treading the party line. “We just need to continue and not think where the other teams are.”
But the reality is that Salah’s brace sets up what could be an incredible week. Real Madrid warmed up for its visit to Anfield with a 3-0 breeze against Leganes but Liverpool should fancy its chances there. And then there is Manchester City.
If Liverpool beats Pep Guardiola’s side, it will move 11 points clear if the Etihad club. And crucially, by that point, more than a third of its league fixtures will have elapsed.
The fact that the Reds weren’t at their best and still won against Southampton is perhaps a positive sign. It’s easy to say that now, of course, when the three points are in the bag, but Slot said the stats showed his team was a worthy winner and he was right.
Manchester City has played poorly for a few weeks now but its results highlight such a fact. Arsenal has had the hardest fixtures so far but dropped points to Bournemouth and Newcastle and now finds itself nine away from the summit. Liverpool has earned a lead and now needs to find a way to maintain it.
Speaking of maintaining new levels, Ryan Gravenberch silkily dictated things once again in the second half at St Mary’s — with calls for him to be rested ahead of the other two games this week rightly ignored. This was the big one for Liverpool and Slot, and they eventually, largely thanks to Salah and Gravenberch, got the job done.
It was Gravenberch’s pass that set Salah away for the equalizing goal and he who offered the most composure in the middle of the park. Szoboszlai took his goal well and Curtis Jones had his moments but it was the Dutch number six who was a level above.
If it wasn’t already clear, Liverpool is a contender for the Premier League title — and it can point to both Salah’s goals and Gravenberch’s brilliance in a new position to explain why. With those two firing, even Slot won’t be able to deny it much longer.
