Liverpool recovered from a Champions League hangover which threatened to produce the shock of the season to beat Southampton 3-1 and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 16 points.
At this stage of the season, a week is a long time in football but in the space of a few days, goalkeeper Alisson Becker went from hero to zero.
After his self-proclaimed best performance of his career against Paris St Germain on Wednesday, the Brazil international’s first-half mistake allowed Will Smallbone to put one of the worst teams in top-flight history ahead at Anfield.
🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/RN3z60urGr
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2025
It was no less than the hosts deserved after a lacklustre 45 minutes, which had the usually relaxed Virgil van Dijk berating his team-mates for their lack of energy.
Head coach Arne Slot – who was serving the final game of his touchline suspension in the Main Stand – saw it and, uncharacteristically, responded with three interval substitutions.
Wednesday’s match-winner Harvey Elliott, Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister made an immediate difference as the tempo increased with Luis Diaz, who was lucky to escape the half-time cull after a lethargic display, also positively impacted.
With one of his first touches, Elliott forced the first save out of Aaron Ramsdale, with Robertson flicking an effort wide from a half-cleared corner.
It was the spark Liverpool needed and they turned the game around in the space of five minutes against the bottom side.
Diaz, showing a drive previously lacking, muscled his way past Kyle Walker-Peters to the byline and cut the ball back for Darwin Nunez to divert in first time from five yards.
The Uruguay international, making his first league start since Boxing Day, then won a 54th-minute penalty after he was brought down by Smallbone after Ramsdale parried Diaz’s shot.
Anfield fell silent but when Mohamed Salah stroked home the resulting spot-kick for his 31st goal of the season, it erupted again.
That equalled Ian Rush’s club record of 10 league goals against Saints and now only the Welshman and Roger Hunt have more Liverpool goals than the Egypt international’s 242.
It was the 19th-successive home game they had scored at least two, equalling Sunderland’s top-flight record from 1935.
Yukinari Sugawara’s handball in trying to fend off Diaz saw Salah dispatch his second penalty for his 184th Premier League goal, drawing level with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero in joint-fifth on the all-time list.
Liverpool were far more recognisable as the team which has lost just once in the league this season – in September – with their second-half performance inkeeping with Slot’s assertion his players should treat this as a final.
It was understandable the visit of a team whose nine-point tally at this stage of the season is the second-worst in top flight history after Sheffield United’s eight in 1976 was not likely to get pulses racing, especially with PSG to visit on Tuesday.
But while Liverpool’s exertions in the Parc des Princes may have been a factor, especially as Slot made only three changes, the torpor on the pitch could not be predicted. Neither could the mistake by Alisson, brilliant in midweek.
The joint-fifth top scorer in Premier League history.
Mohamed Salah. 💫 pic.twitter.com/y4p9zVuj07
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 8, 2025
In first-half added time, a result of a concussion injury to Jan Bednarek after a sickening clash of heads with team-mate Ryan Manning, Van Dijk attempted to usher the ball back to his goalkeeper.
Alisson did not read his intentions quick enough and when he did, tried to kick instead of pick up and got in a tangle with his captain and Matheus Fernandes, while Smallbone slotted the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.
It was the wake-up call the team needed and after securing victory, the pressure was ramped up on second-placed Arsenal, who go to Manchester United on Sunday.
[(IF Gnistan) Strength]: 1. IF Gnistan are 7th with 20 points in the Veikkausliiga, tying with 6th-placed Vaasan Palloseura, who played one fewer game, on points. They are motivated to take home advantage to take all 3 points and enter the Championship Round.2. IF Gnistan drew 0-0 with Vaasan Palloseura in the last round at home. They remained unbeaten with 1 win and 2 draws in the last 3 games.3....
[(Beijing Guoan) Strength]: 1. In the last game, players like Zhang Xizhe, Zhang Yuning and Lin Liangming all scored goals.2. Beijing Guoan achieved a big win in their last game, defeating Yunnan Yukun 7-0 in the Chinese FA Cup. They have secured three consecutive victories in all competitions.3. Beijing Guoan have been performing strongly in attack recently, scoring 16 goals in the last 4 matches...
[(Inter Milan) Strength]: 1. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, two starting forwards of Inter Milan last season, respectively scored 14 goals and 12 goals. They will still be the main scoring points of the team this season.2. Inter Milan signed Petar Sucic, Andy Diouf, and Luis Henrique, boosting their strength.3. Inter Milan were runners-up of last season's Serie A due to a 1-point deficit. How...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Man Utd vs Fulham Fulham 1-1 Man Utd(16th) Bruno's Penalty Poor gang Good luck bros lol This Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, FootballLaughss)...
Yoro's header gives Manchester United the leadEmile Smith Rowe scored with his first touch as a second-half substitute as Fulham salvaged a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League, avoiding a ninth consecutive H2H home league defeat in the process.Having produced one of their better performances under Ruben Amorim in last week’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, the Red Devils mad...
Mbappe Vinicius Rodrygo Real Madrid GFXXabi Alonso's side weren't particularly impressive on Sunday but still secured their second La Liga win in a row to open the seasonKylian Mbappe scored twice before Vinicius Jr added a third to secure a 3-0 victory for an otherwise underwheliming Real Madrid over newly-promoted Real Oviedo. Xabi Alonso's side produced an unconvincing performance for the secon...
Tottenham submit improved €70m Paz transfer bidAccording to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs saw their second transfer bid for Nico Paz rejected on Sunday evening. The Premier League club's initial bid worth €40 million (£34.6m) was also knocked back by Como, who are determined to keep hold of the Argentine midfielder for at least one more season.The report adds that Paz wants to stay at Co...
Man Utd, Galatasasary launch offers for Antwerp keeper LammensManchester United are closing a deal for Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens.The young Belgian is set to move to Old Trafford for a fee of 316m plus bonuses, though late competition has arrived from Galatasaray and Inter Milan.Galatasaray made a bid of their own on Saturday night. However, the Mirror says Lammens' preferred choice is...
Antony’s Man United Exit Hopes Rest on Fresh Real Betis Bid Within 'Next 24 Hours'Antony’s chances of ending his Manchester United nightmare hinge on a fresh bid from Real Betis, reprotedly expected within the next 24 hours.The 25-year-old, who is a member of the clubs infamous ‘bomb squad’ is widely expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.Antony enjoyed success on his l...
Liverpool Face Marc Guehi Transfer Blow as Premier League Rivals Join Race for Palace AceLiverpool’s hopes of signing Marc Guehi have reportedly hit a setback, with Premier League rivals Man City now entering the race for the Crystal Palace defender.The 25-year-old is still expected to leave the FA Cup holders in the remaining few days of the transfer window, which ends on September 1st.Gueh...
- 1 Ruben Amorim gives cryptic response when asked about Andre Onana returning to starting XI for Fulham clash after Altay Bayindir blunder handed Arsenal victory
- 2 'Victory Bodes Well for Future' – Gasperini Delighted with Roma’s Opening Day Win
- 3 TIPS - Eintracht Frankfurt VS Werder Bremen
- 4 Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal could turn to Lyon's Fofana
- 5 TIPS - Cerezo Osaka VS Vissel Kobe
- 6 TIPS - Gamba Osaka VS Yokohama FC
- 7 TIPS - Schalke 04 VS VfL Bochum
- 8 TIPS - Olympique de Marseille VS Paris FC
- 9 TIPS - Yokohama F. Marinos VS FC Machida Zelvia
- 10 TIPS - Hannover 96 VS FC Magdeburg