Match reportMohamed Salah's late penalty earns Liverpool thrilling victory at Southampton

The Reds were involved in a topsy-turvy encounter at St Mary’s as they took the lead and then came from behind to secure a thrilling win.

Dominik Szoboszlai gave the visitors an advantage in the opening half, before a penalty from Adam Armstrong and an effort by Mateus Fernandes put the hosts in front.

However, Salah’s double in the second period ensured the points would return to Merseyside with Arne Slot’s men as they opened up an eight-point advantage at the top of the standings.

Team news

Conor Bradley started for the Reds on the south coast with Trent Alexander-Arnold absent from the matchday squad due to injury.

Harvey Elliott, meanwhile, returned to the substitutes’ bench having resumed full training during the November international break.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Nunez (Endo, 90), Salah, Jones (Mac Allister, 62), Gakpo (Diaz, 62), Robertson, Gravenberch, Bradley.

Unused subs: Jaros, Davies, Gomez, Elliott, Quansah, Morton.

First half

Liverpool dominated early possession, but it was Southampton who threatened to open the scoring first as Fernandes tested Caoimhin Kelleher’s reactions from distance.

Salah responded swiftly for the Reds in the opposite box, forcing Alex McCarthy into action to his left following a swift Szoboszlai break, while Armstrong saw appeals for a penalty under the challenge of Ibrahima Konate waved away.

After a frantic beginning, the game settled into a battle for the ball in midfield with Bradley and Konate both picking up bookings for fouls inside the Liverpool half.

Szoboszlai sliced a shot wide following a dangerous ball in from Bradley that was punched away, before Salah was again denied by McCarthy with a half-volley from a tight angle.

Adam Lallana also picked up a caution for a late tackle on Ryan Gravenberch, with the resulting free-kick leading to a low shooting chance for Szoboszlai again, though his effort was saved once more.

McCarthy was being kept busy by the Reds in their search for an opener, as Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones were the next to test the goalkeeper’s reflexes.

Southampton, however, were struggling to deal with Liverpool’s high press and it was a defensive error that led to the opening goal of the afternoon.

Flynn Downes was unable to clear his lines fully under pressure with Fernandes dispossessed after McCarthy’s quick throw, and the clearance eventually fell to Szoboszlai, who punished the hosts with a fine curling effort via the inside of the far post.

The defender almost made amends immediately on the next attack, seeing Kelleher brilliantly push away his low shot in response.

Ahead of the half-time break, Saints did level up proceedings after they were awarded a penalty for Andy Robertson’s challenge on Tyler Dibling on the edge of the box as the forward sprinted through.

Armstrong saw his initial effort from 12 yards halted by Kelleher, but he was on hand to convert the rebound.

Second half

Both teams exchanged shooting opportunities in the early phases of the second half, while Gakpo was next to head into the book after an attempted break by Paul Onuachu.

Southampton took the lead a little more than 10 minutes after the restart with Liverpool caught short amid a swift break forward from the hosts.

Good work from Armstrong held the ball up and his pass found the onrushing Fernandes, who tucked a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The Reds responded with a double change as Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz were introduced from the bench, and the latter almost had an immediate impact.

Darwin Nunez sprinted through along the right and squared a ball to the winger with the goal open, but the cross was just behind his run with the No.7 unable to convert.

Liverpool, though, got level on their next attack as Gravenberch’s lofted ball forward found the run of Salah. The No.11 cleverly prodded an effort goalwards at the first attempt with McCarthy coming to meet the pass, and the ball slid into an empty net to restore parity.

The Reds again went close as they looked to press home the momentum, with Diaz seeing a header saved, before Gravenberch hooked the ball over the bar following a corner.

They were now enjoying all of the ball and a number of set-pieces, with Armstrong picking up a yellow for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk.

The pressure finally told for Slot’s charges when they earned a penalty in minute 83 and a chance to take home all three points.

Yuki Sugawara was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area and Salah duly stepped up to convert, sparking wild celebrations in the away end.