Salah’s best, left-back problems and priority city – 5 talking points from S’ton 2-3 Liverpool – Liverpool FC

Mohamed Salah showed his class again to give Liverpool the win despite a poor performance against bottom of the table Southampton.

Southampton 2-3 Liverpool

Premier League (12) | St. Mary’s Stadium
24 November 2024

Goal: Armstrong 42′ Mateus Fernandes 56′; Szoboszlai 30′, Salah 65′, 83′ (pen).

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1. World-class Salah gives Liverpool edge in title race… eventually

With the loss of Man City again this was an opportunity for Liverpool to further their advantage in the title race, but for a while it looked like they weren’t going to do it.

Step up Mohamed Salah. Now arguably the best player in this English Premier League despite a general wider lack of recognition of his quality.

With Liverpool 2-1 down, a brilliant pass over the top from Liverpool’s most consistent midfielder this season, Ryan Gravenberch, gave Salah a chance.

Alex McCarthy raced out to make it even more of a chance, but the keeper’s decision changed the type of finish required, which wasn’t as easy as Salah made it look.

It needed a perfect first touch to steer the ball into the net and the Egyptian provided it, following it up to get the ball back for a quicker restart. Winning is the only thing on Salah’s mind despite the contract talk elsewhere.

Then came the opportunity to win the match. The penalty won gave Liverpool hope, but penalties still need to be scored and there is more pressure on a potentially game-winning spot-kick than there is on others, but Salah tucked it away.

In fact he did more than tuck it away – it was more convincing than that as he found the side netting with precision and power as McCarthy dove the right way.

It was another occasion where Salah was world-class winning the game for Liverpool, stepping up in those difference-making moments where such players thrive.

2. The left-back question

This game showed why Kostas Tsimikas has arguably crept ahead of Andy Robertson in the pecking order at left back.

Robertson, one of the best in the world in his position at his peak, now looks to be struggling and it showed when Tyler Dibling ran at him before the foul that led to Southampton’s penalty.

It was touch and go whether it was in or out of the box, but regardless Robertson was looking at a loss as to how to deal with the 18-year-old and you could foresee what was going to happen in that moment.

He was not the only defender to have such problems. Even Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk were caught out on a few occasions, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the team can improve in this area.

Tsimikas is a good backup player, but maybe he could now be the first choice; which shows why this is the position Slot and the recruitment team need to address ASAP.

3. Don’t get the green, but still win

This game was certainly not a convincing performance from Arne Slot, and in addition, a few things went against them that were out of their control.

Adam Lallana was lucky to stay on the pitch for a studs-up tackle over the top of Gravenberch’s ankle.

It’s the type of challenge that usually results in a red card, as Liverpool themselves have experienced, but Lallana escaped with a yellow.

The penalty for the Robertson challenge is less controversial, yet on another day a referee could have deemed it a free kick outside the area and VAR would not have been able to overturn that decision either.

If the call is that close, the referee should give the free kick instead of something as big and potentially game-changing as a penalty, and then use VAR to check.

Even then Caoimhin Kelleher saved the penalty and on another day it bounced away from the danger, but as it was the penalty taker, Adam Armstrong followed up and set the rebound which Kelleher almost saved again.

All of this came together to give Southampton a foothold in the game as they looked to be slipping, especially as they struggled to build up from the back.

Liverpool weren’t flawless and it was a poor performance, but a few decisions here or there and a few balls can make a difference. None of them went Liverpool’s way.

4. Need for improvement

Liverpool will not be able to rely on Salah like this all the time.

There were plenty of performances across the team that have plenty of room for improvement and it would be unfair to single out Robertson in this regard.

Up front, Darwin Nunez worked hard as usual but was lacking in other areas until he created a good chance for Luis Diaz. Maybe he needs to drive wide more often.

Diaz himself has been a bit off after a fantastic start to the season, and similarly Alexis MacAllister has not looked his best in recent weeks.

It seems ridiculous to direct any criticism at a group of players who have won ten out of 12 league games, conceded just eight goals and have a good lead at the top of the table, especially for this time of the season.

If some things improve and the players start to click into gear at the same time, Liverpool can defeat City next week and take an even more convincing lead at the top of the Premier League table.

5. The Champions League just got Real – but should prioritize City

Liverpool are in a comfortable position in the Champions League table but face a short turnaround between this Sunday’s game and their biggest European test yet against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

They are in a good position to go straight into the round of 16, but Real are currently only on course for a playoff spot in the knockout stages, so they will be more desperate for a win.

Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones left this game early so it looks like they will start against Real.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured, it looks like Conor Bradley will fill in at right-back, but could Joe Gomez slot into the back line instead?

Some rotation is required as it is the City game that should be prioritized with a chance to go 11 points clear on the first of December.