Toby Wilding

Sat 8 March 2025 17:16, UK

Liverpool took another step towards the Premier League title with a 3-1 win over bottom club Southampton at Anfield on Saturday (8 March).

After a first half in which the hosts made much of the running without really working Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Arne Slot‘s side were stunned on the stroke of half-time.

A mix-up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk allowed Will Smallbone to capitalise and put Southampton in front in first half stoppage time.

Liverpool though responded almost immediately after half-time, with Darwin Nunez turning home a pull-back from Luis Diaz six minutes after half-time.

Barely a minute later they were in front, as Nunez drew a foul from Smallbone inside the Southampton area, with referee Lewis Smith pointing the spot.

Mo Salah then stepped up to emphatically blast home from the spot to Liverpool into the lead many had expected them to take much earlier in the game.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, the hosts would put the game out of sight when Salah netted his second spot kick of the game after a handball from Yuki Sugawara inside his own area.

That was enough for the Reds to see out the win, moving them 16 points at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Man United on Sunday (9 March).

Here is a look at how Football Insider rated the performances of the Liverpool squad from that clash with Southampton.

Liverpool defensive generals have a moment to forget

Alisson – 5

Alisson was heroic as Liverpool beat PSG in the Champions League in midweek, so will have been disappointed by the mix-up for Southampton’s goal. Only comfortable saves otherwise.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – (off for Quansah, ’89) 6

One stunning long pass forward in the first half which Salah didn’t fully make the most of, a reasonably solid game defensively too.

Ibrahima Konate – 6

Konate was lucky not to be sent for Liverpool in Paris, so he may have been happy to have an afternoon where he was under less scrutiny here.

Virgil van Dijk – 5

Like Alisson won’t be pleased with his part in the goal Southampton scored, but not overly troubled for the rest of the game.

Kostas Tsimikas (off for Robertson, ’46) – 4

Brought in to rest Robertson but taken off at half-time having been booked for cynical foul. Won’t have quietened links between Liverpool and other left-backs such as Antonee Robinson.

Dominik Szobszlai (off for Mac Allister, ’46) – 5

Has been heavily involved in recent weeks but this was a quieter outing for the Hungarian international.

Ryan Gravenberch (off for Endo, ’81) – 6

A typically steady job in the centre of the park from the ever-reliable Dutchman.

Curtis Jones (off for Elliott, ’46) – 4

Missed a big opening early in the first half and couldn’t make much of an impression otherwise.

Mo Salah – 7

Not a game where he was heavily involved, but two brilliant penalties to seal the win and edge his side ever closer to the Premier League title.

Darwin Nunez provides a key contribution

Darwin Nunez – (off for Jota, ’68) – 8 – Man of the Match

Nunez could be on his way out of Liverpool in the summer but he made a key impact here, finishing like a clinical centre-forward to equalise before winning the penalty that put his side ahead.

Luis Diaz – 6

Much brighter in the second-half, including with an excellent run and pass to set-up Nunez for the all-important equaliser.

Substitutes

Andy Robertson (on for Tsimikas, ’46) – 7

Much more solid than Tsimikas on the left, and offered more going forward too.

Harvey Elliott (on for Jones, ’46) – 7

After his late winner in Paris in midweek, Elliot was unsurprisingly bright again here to add a much-needed spark to the attack.

Alexis Mac Allister (on for Szobszlai, ’46) – 7

Another half time substitute that worked for Slot, with Mac Allister providing more control in midfield.

Diogo Jota (on for Nunez, ’68) – 6

Didn’t make the same impact as Nunez but didn’t need to in truth.

Wataru Endo (on for Gravenberch, ’81) – 6

Did his traditional job of seeing out a win late on as well as ever.

Jarell Quansah (on for Alexander-Arnold, ’89) – 5

On as a sixth substitute for the final minutes after Southampton had used an extra concussion substitute in the first-half.