Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

by James Nalton

at Anfield

LIVERPOOL came back from a goal down at half time to record a vital win which keeps them clear at the top of the table in the Premier League title race.

It appears to no longer be a race as second-place Arsenal will still be 10 points off the top if they win both of their games in hand, but league titles cannot usually be defended like a one goal lead — they need to be won.

That is Liverpool’s task now, but they will not play another league game until next month.

Before that, they have important games in the Champions League, against Paris Saint-Germain, and a League Cup final against Newcastle to contend with.

An international break follows those games, and with such an extended break between their next league game, it was important they picked up a win to make their lead at the top more comfortable, and allow focus on these two other tournaments.

Southampton didn’t make it easy at Anfield on Saturday and took a first-half lead through Will Smallbone.

“Today we changed the way we played a little bit,” said Southampton manager Ivan Juric. “The players felt comfortable and did some really good things.”

As good as Southampton were in that first half — they certainly didn’t look like a team that’s rooted to the bottom of the table — Liverpool lacked any urgency in their play.

“I said at half-time that the energy levels were far, far, far too low,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot emphasised after the game.

“That is what had to change and that’s why we made three substitutions — apart from bringing in quality, also to create [a reaction].

“Nine out of 10 times when you take three out the other eight will think: ‘Oh, something else should happen.’

“That’s the only thing I could come up with at half time to create something different for the second half.”

It worked to perfection, and half-time substitutes Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister all brought something to the game, while the other players looked energised.

Darwin Nunez equalised following good work from Luis Diaz, then Diaz won a penalty converted by Mohamed Salah who went on to score again from the spot after a hand ball by Saints right back Yukinari Sugawara.

It meant Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table on Saturday night was 16 points. It looks unassailable, but the title will still need winning once Slot’s side return to league action in April.