Mohamed Salah’s second-half brace helped Liverpool edge past Southampton, securing an 8-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds survived a scare at St Mary’s after Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half goal was canceled out by Adam Armstrong before the break.
Southampton took a shock lead early in the second half when Mateus Fernandes fired home. But Salah’s clinical response spared Liverpool’s blushes.
Salah coolly slotted the equalizer and then scored a late penalty, taking his tally to 12 goals this season, with six in his last five league matches.
Thanks to his heroics, Liverpool pulled clear of second-placed Manchester City, who suffered a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
Under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have won 16 of their first 18 games across all competitions, establishing themselves as favorites for a Premier League title.
Despite being below their best, Liverpool secured a gritty win in preparation for a crucial period, with Real Madrid coming to Anfield for a Champions League clash on Wednesday.
The match began with Liverpool dominating possession, but Southampton’s goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was tested early by Salah, who forced him into a sprawling save.
Liverpool took the lead in the 30th minute after Southampton made a costly mistake in defense. Szoboszlai capitalized on a poor clearance to slot past McCarthy.
However, Southampton equalized just before halftime through a controversial penalty, with Armstrong converting after a foul on Tyler Dibling.
The second half saw more drama as Southampton took the lead in the 56th minute, but Salah’s brace sealed the victory for Liverpool, capped off by a late penalty.
