Liverpool creates 8-point gap with Man City

After 12 rounds of the new season, Liverpool have created an eight-point gap over second-placed Man City, thanks to their fifth consecutive win in all competitions. Liverpool opened the scoring, then fell behind 1-2, but Salah's double helped the visitors leave with all three points.

Before the match, Salah received praise as "player of the tournament" from Tottenham captain Son Heung-min. The Egyptian star played poorly in the first half, but exploded in the final 30 minutes, and could have left with the ball and a hat-trick if not for the post.

All three of Liverpool's goals came from Southampton's inexplicable errors. The first came from a poor clearance by centre-back Flynn Downes in the home side's penalty area. The second was a careless run-in by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, and the third came from a handball by defender Yukinari Sugawara in the box that led to a penalty.

These mistakes caused Southampton to waste the chance to create a surprise, on a day when coach Arne Slot had two pillars, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz, on the bench. The visitors still dominated the game and opened the scoring in the 30th minute, when Downes cleared the ball to Dominik Szoboszlai in the penalty area. The Hungarian midfielder curled the ball into the far corner with his left foot, opening the scoring.

Southampton have lost 10 of their first 12 games this season, but their performance against Liverpool offered some hope thanks to 18-year-old midfielder Tyler Dibling. In the 40th minute, he dribbled from the halfway line to the edge of the box before being tripped by Andy Robertson. Referee Sam Barrott awarded the home side a penalty, although the foul appeared to have occurred outside the area, and VAR Michael Oliver did not intervene.

Striker Adam Armstrong's penalty shot went to the bottom left corner, but was pushed out by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. But Armstrong himself swooped in to equalize 1-1 for Southampton.

The bottom team continued to pour cold water on the top team in the 56th minute, from a quick counter-attack. Dibling crossed the ball to Armstrong on the left side of the penalty area, before the striker passed it to Mateus Fernandes to shoot low into the left corner, giving the home team the lead.

But that was all Southampton could do, as they "shot themselves in the foot" afterwards. In the 65th minute, from Ryan Gravenberch's pass, goalkeeper McCarthy rushed out inexplicably, allowing Salah to easily shoot with one touch and slowly put the ball into the empty net, equalizing 2-2.

The home team collapsed in the 81st minute, from Salah's cross, defender Sugawara touched the ball with his chest, it bounced to his outstretched hand. Referee Barrott once again blew the penalty, and VAR continued to not intervene. From the 11m mark, Salah shot to the top left corner, then took off his shirt and threw it into the air to celebrate the goal.

This victory will give Liverpool more confidence for the next Premier League match against Man City. But before that, Slot's team will meet Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League on the evening of November 27.