Southampton 2-3 Liverpool: Szoboszlai & Mateus scores, Salah nets brace

Premier League leaders Liverpool opened an eight-point gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City after coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 in a Super Sunday thriller at St Mary's.

Competition events

Goals from Adam Armstrong and Matheus Fernandes had seen Saints cancel out Dominik Szoboszlai's opener, but Mohamed Salah's double did it for Arne Slot's side in wet and windy conditions on the south coast.

It was almost the perfect start for Southampton. With seven minutes on the clock, Adam Armstrong cut through Ibrahima Konate and went to ground in the penalty area. The home fans were furious as they were certain a penalty would follow, but referee Sam Barrott and VAR Michael Oliver agreed.

Liverpool started poorly but tested goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who made his first Premier League start in three months, a few times until they took the lead.

McCarthy rolled the ball to Matheus Fernandes under intense pressure, Flynn Downes tried to hook the ball away but failed, allowing Szoboszlai to fire a shot into the top left corner. It was the seventh foul that led to a goal from Russell Martin this season – the most in the Premier League.

But just before half-time, Saints leveled. A lengthy VAR review confirmed that Tyler Dibling was clattered by Andy Robertson just inside the penalty area and although Caoimhin Kelleher saved Armstrong's initial effort, the striker tucked away the rebound.

The comeback was complete before the hour mark. Dibling won the ball in a tight space near the halfway line and lifted a beautiful ball into Armstrong's path. He held the ball up, turned and squared up for Fernandes to jump in and sweep home.

Then the momentum changed again. Ryan Gravenberch lifted the ball forward for Salah, whose nonchalant finish caught McCarthy – who had been instructed to race off his line – cold, as the ball trickled past him and into the unguarded net.

And there was no looking back for the hosts as Salah rattled a penalty past McCarthy after Yukinari Sugawara misread a cross to the back post, confirming the teams in their respective positions at the top and bottom of the Premier League table would stay. .

0' The match is about to start!

0' Highlight of Southampton vs Liverpool

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21' match event for Southampton vs Liverpool

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27' Highlight of Southampton vs Liverpool

30' GOAL! Szoboszlai takes advantage of the mistake to shoot into the net! Southampton 0-1 Liverpool

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42' Armstrong's penalty saves but tucks in the rebound! Southampton 1-1 Liverpool

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56' GOAL! Mateus catches up with the score! Southampton 2-1 Liverpool

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63' Almost! Diaz almost takes Nunez's chance

65' GOAL! Salah touches McCarthy to equalize! Southampton 2-2 Liverpool

67' Diaz header saved by McCarthy!

70' Long shot attempt by Mac Allister!

79' Sugawara handball, referee calls for penalty!

83' Penalty goal! Southampton 2-3 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah)

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Setups

Southampton XI: Lallana, McCarthy, Stephens, Fraser, Paul Onuachu, Adam Armstrong, Walker-Peters, Flynn Downes, Harwood-Bellis, Tyler Dibling, Mateus Fernandes

Subs: Ryan Manning, Joe Lumley, James Bree, Joe Aribo, Ben Brereton Díaz, Yukinari Sugawara, Cameron Archer, L. Ugochukwu, Kamaldeen Sulemana

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Kelleher, Konate, Cody Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Darwin Núñez, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Conor Bradley

Subs: W. Endo, Joe Gomez, Mac Allister, Luis Díaz, Vitezslav Jaros, Elliott, Harvey Davies, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton