Liverpool 3 - Southampton 0: Mohamed Salah scores another two for Jurgen Klopp's side
MOHAMED SALAH scored twice to make it nine goals in 12 Premier League games for Liverpool – one more than Kop legend Robbie Fowler managed in his first dozen.
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And Philippe Coutinho made it a comprehensive 3-0 victory – just the pick-me-up boss Jurgen Klopp needed after a midweek spell in hospital.
The heavy defeat left Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino with a sick note of his own on his return to Merseyside, where he played for Liverpool and coached under Rafa Benitez.
And for defender Virgil van Dijk it was a reminder of where he’ll probably be in the New Year – enjoying the ride instead of loathing every minute of being given the runaround.
Klopp praised Salah, saying: “The first goal, wow, and the second was a fantastic pass. Mo Salah makes great runs. We could have scored more but it was a perfect day for us.
“It looked more mature. We’re still in there and that’s good. Man City are fl ying but we cannot change that.”
Southampton could have been down and out as early as the ninth minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold was inches away from getting a boot to the ball and keeper Fraser Forster then caused panic with a bout of hand tennis.
Liverpool seriously threatened again in the 22nd minute, when Sadio Mane found Georginio Wijnaldum and the Dutchman’s curling shot was pushed away by Forster.
Coutinho was inches away from opening the scoring with a low effort Forster kept out with his fingertips.
But there was no stopping Salah in the 31st minute. Dusan Tadic was caught in possession, and when the ball was worked out to Salah he curled it brilliantly into the top corner with his lethal left foot.
The Egyptian notched his second 10 minutes later. Coutinho threaded through a superb pass with the outside of his boot and Salah neatly tucked the ball beyond Forster.
Southampton dusted themselves down and came out fighting for the second half with more purpose and poise in front of goal.
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But the biggest threat still belonged to Liverpool as Coutinho, fed by Salah, surged through only to see his low drive finish the wrong side of the post.
There was no mistake from the Brazilian, though, when he grabbed the third in the 68th minute. Mane picked out Roberto Firmino with a delightful reverse pass and Liverpool’s No9 blasted into Forster’s barrel chest.
The Saints thought they’d escaped but the ball cannoned into Coutinho’s path and he hammered it into the bottom corner.
And that was it. Game over. All that was left, apart from a Firmino sizzler past the upright, was a standing ovation for Salah when he was subbed with 10 minutes left and hugged by the boss.
Pellegrino will hope for more fight from his team and said: “We have to react and show our best face next week. The second goal we were really disappointed (with).
“We felt we couldn’t do any more to get back into the game and that’s worrying. In general, Liverpool were one pace more than us.”
