Liverpool tightened their grip on the Premier League title race with a commanding 3-1 victory over Southampton at Anfield. Mohamed Salah’s second-half brace saw him climb to third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list, while Darwin Núñez also found the net in a dominant second-half display.
Despite their status as league leaders, Liverpool endured an early shock when Will Smallbone capitalized on a defensive lapse in first-half stoppage time. A mix-up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk gifted Southampton an opening, and Smallbone made no mistake from a tight angle to silence the home crowd.
The setback only fueled Liverpool’s intensity after the break. Luis Díaz’s clever footwork unlocked the Saints’ defense in the 51st minute, setting up Núñez for a composed finish to restore parity. Just three minutes later, the Uruguayan won a penalty after being clipped in the box by Smallbone. Salah stepped up and rifled a powerful shot past Aaron Ramsdale, turning the game on its head in an instant.
Liverpool continued to dominate possession, pinning Southampton deep in their half. The visitors struggled to regain their first-half composure, while Salah’s movement kept their defense under relentless pressure. The Egyptian sealed the win in the 87th minute, converting another penalty after Yukinari Sugawara’s handball, bringing his tally to 243 goals for Liverpool surpassing club legend Gordon Hodgson in the all-time rankings.
Salah’s latest milestone adds to his remarkable legacy at Anfield, with only Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285) now ahead of him in the club’s goal-scoring charts. The forward reached this feat in just 390 appearances since his arrival from Roma in 2017.
The victory extends Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to 16 points, though Arsenal, with two games in hand, remain in pursuit. Southampton, meanwhile, find themselves 13 points from safety, facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
With momentum building and Salah in record-breaking form, Liverpool look firmly on course to reclaim the Premier League title.
