Liverpool 3-0 Southampton: Premier League highlights and recap

Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 at Anfield on Saturday, Nov. 18. Here are all the highlights from the Premier League match.

Related Story: The 30 worst signings in Premier League history

For all the talk about Liverpool’s suspect defense this season — and it’s been warranted — they’re beginning to make a habit of dominant home wins. They beat Southampton 3-0 on Saturday to take their record at Anfield to four wins and two draws, with only a single goal allowed.

As comfortable as the Reds’ win was, however, they created almost nothing in the first half hour of the match. Prior to Mohamed Salah’s opener, the best chance for either side was Georginio Wijnaldum’s speculative effort from outside the box, which Fraser Forster could probably have caught, but chose to punch clear.

Perhaps the lack of goalmouth action should have come as no surprise. The Saints have struggled going forward all season, and while their defense-first approach made sense given Liverpool’s prolific attack, it was still alarming how little they created. Shane Long barely touched the ball, while Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal were peripheral.

The Reds, who started Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho together for the first time in the league all season, weren’t exactly rampant, and Salah’s goal was something of a gift, as Dusan Tadic got caught on the ball at the top of the 18 yard box to give him the opportunity.

But the Reds took charge after going ahead, doubling their lead before the break. Salah was the scorer again — his ninth in 12 league matches — but the goal was all about Coutinho’s wonderful through ball, the sort of pass Jurgen Klopp must have envisioned when he decided to move Coutinho back into midfield this season.

As Southampton searched for a route back into the game, Liverpool’s counter-attack hummed into life in the second half. It took until the 68th minute for Coutinho to add a third, but Klopp’s side could well have had five or six.

Highlights

Liverpool stay fifth following the win, but pull within a point of fourth-place Tottenham. Southampton move down to 14th with a loss.