Liverpool took another huge step towards the title after a Mo Salah brace helped them beat Southampton
Liverpool took another huge step towards the title after a Mo Salah brace helped them beat Southampton
Andy Robertson felt it was a bit of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool which helped turn this game around.
The Reds under Arne Slot are known for being more orchestral than the heavy metal football side, a phrase coined by Klopp during his time at Anfield. When Liverpool won the title in 2019-20 they were famed for their relentless pressing and fast transitions which blew teams away.
Now, under Slot, it is more about control and building play up before taking teams apart. It has helped with injury prevention and fitness as they challenge on three fronts.
But here, against bottom side Southampton and after making Slot angrier than he has ever been in his debut season at Anfield with a poor first-half showing, they rekindled some of Klopp’s style to turn the game around.
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“The first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half I thought we blew them away and that was maybe similar to what we have kind of done in previous seasons,” said Robertson, who was brought on at half-time.
“But maybe we have a bit more control and have time to be a bit more patient where the 19-20 team was probably when we got the ball we killed people on the counter-attack and in the half-spaces and before they even thought about it we were in front of goal.
“It is different but I do still think we have elements and you saw that in the second half where we were very gung-ho and just put Southampton under pressure and kept them penned in. Thankfully the lads had their shooting boots on and we were able to punish them.”
Will Smallbone scores for Southampton against Liverpool
Will Smallbone gave Southampton a shock lead
Will Smallbone had put Southampton into a shock lead right before the break after a defensive mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. “Yes," captain Virgil Van Dijk said when asked if it was the angriest he’d seen Slot, who was banned from the touchline, at the break.
“But if you look at the first half, he had every right to be angry. And I think from his point of view as well, it was even more frustrating to see. But we did what we all wanted in the second half and what he wanted as well and now we move on.”
Darwin Nunez, who escaped a red in the first half for kicking out at Kyle Walker-Peters, scored the equaliser six minutes after the restart. The Uruguayan forward was then fouled for the first of two penalties and Mo Salah netted from the spot in the 55th minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah celebrate
Liverpool came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1
(
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Salah scored again from 12 yards after Yukinari Sugawara handled in the area late on. That’s 27 now in the Premier League and with nine games to go, Erling Haaland’s record of 36 is in his sights.
This was also the 19th game in a row in all competitions in which Liverpool have scored two or more goals. Slot’s football is different to Klopp’s but it is potentially more consistent. Klopp’s Liverpool won one league title and one European Cup in his tenure. There’s a real chance Slot can match that in one season, which would be remarkable.
Robertson added: “It is just different, different ways of playing and we've all had to adapt to the different managers' two different styles of play and both are enjoyable. Hopefully both are as successful.”
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