LIV vs SOU
Match Centre
LIV vs SOU As It Happened
Key moments so far
- Southampton beaten 3-0 at Anfield
- Hoedt finds his own net, Matip heads home a corner and Salah pounces from close range
- All three goals scored in the first half on Merseyside
- Austin denied by Alisson late on from Saints' best chance
as a team, i actually thought in the first half we were in the balance and created some good stuff. when you come to places like this, it's always tough. you can't give them anything, but we've given them three goals. that's given us a mountain to climb.
ryan bertrandsouthampton captain
Read our match report from Anfield
It's a disappointing day for Saints, who were well beaten by a very impressive side who top the Premier League table. Click here to read our match report from Anfield.
FULL TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
It's all over at Anfield, where all the damage was done in the first half. Wesley Hoedt put through his own net before Joel Matip headed Liverpool's second. Mo Salah pounced from close range right on the stroke of half time to complete the scoring. The second period won't live long in the memory for either side, but Liverpool march on - that's six wins out of six at the start of the league season.
Austin denied by Alisson
Nearly a late consolation for Saints, as Cédric's diagonal pass picks out Austin, who takes it down and smashes a shot towards the near post that's beaten behind by the Brazilian.
Salah scores again... but it's offside
Salah eventually turns the ball home after an almighty scramble in which Bertrand clears off the line from Milner, but the flag is up and the Egyptian is denied his second goal of the day.
Not the most enthralling second half...
That shot from Robertson, would you believe, was the first attempt of any description since half time. We're into the final five minutes at Anfield.
Robertson volleys over
Salah chips a ball into the box, which is headed out but only as far as Robertson, who hits the dropping ball first time on the volley from 15 yards, but can't keep his shot down.
McCarthy dives at the feet of Salah
Salah skips away down the inside-right channel, but out comes Saints' number one to dive at his feet and halt the flying forward in his tracks.
Southampton substitution: Charlie Austin replaces Shane Long
It's a final change of the day for Mark Hughes, as Austin replaces Long up front for the closing stages.
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Liverpool substitution: Naby Keita replaces Georginio Wijnaldum
Final change for the home team is a straight swap in midfield. There are 20 minutes remaining here at Anfield.
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Salah's cross is overhit
Attacks have been few and far between. Salah gets himself into the Saints box and stands up a cross, but it's too deep and he cannot find a red shirt.
Half an hour to go at Anfield
We're at the 60-minute mark, and there's been very little to report from the second half so far. Can Saints score the next goal to give the travelling fans some hope?
Yellow Card for Mario Lemina (Southampton)
Mané gets away down the left, so Lemina takes matters into his own hands and brings him down.
Southampton substitution: Jan Bednarek replaces Matt Targett
The two players brought into the side this afternoon are the two to be sacrificed.
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Southampton substitution: Stuart Armstrong replaces Oriol Romeu
It's a double change for Saints, as Armstrong and Bednarek enter the fray.
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Liverpool substitution: Joseph Gomez replaces Virgil van Dijk
Perhaps no more than a precaution, but the struggling van Dijk is replaced by Gomez.
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Van Dijk receiving treatment...
The Dutchman has stayed down for a while now, and it looks like he'll need to be replaced.
This time Salah can't find Firmino
Liverpool find themselves in a promising attacking position, but Salah ignores Mané to his left and looks for the more difficult ball to Firmino, which doesn't quite pay off.
The second half is under way
We're back up and running, with Saints attacking towards their travelling supporters in the second period.
Liverpool substitution: James Milner replaces Xherdan Shaqiri
It's a half time change for the hosts, as Shaqiri makes way for Milner.
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HALF TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
That third goal has come at an awful time for Saints, who have put together some decent attacking moves, but shot themselves in the foot at the other end. Wesley Hoedt's own goal, Joel Matip's header from a corner and Mo Salah's sharp reactions after Xherdan Shaqiri struck the crossbar from a free-kick have put Liverpool well on course for six Premier League wins out of six.
Salah taps in Liverpool's third
So close from Shaqiri, whose 25-yard free-kick strikes the underside of the crossbar and bounces up into the air. Salah is quickest to react, with McCarthy stranded from his dive, leaving last season's Player of the Year with the simplest task from virtually on the goal line.
GOAL
Mohamed Salah Ghaly (+3’) | 3 – 0
McCarthy saves from Mané
It's a routine stop from the keeper, after Mané dispossesses Lemina and takes aim with a 20-yard shot, but his attempted curler is too close to McCarthy, who makes a simple catch.
Salah goes close with a backheel
It's a rapid counter-attack from Liverpool, as Salah gets in behind Vestergaard but gets held up as McCarthy advances, prompting the Egyptian to try his luck with a cheeky backheel that only dribbles a whisker wide.
Another chance for Højbjerg
Bertrand gets into a great crossing position and picks out Højbjerg, but he can't adjust correctly on his left foot and scuffs his volley.
Liverpool take the sting out of the game
So often playing at 100mph, the hosts have slowed things down, happy with their two-goal advantage. It's the first time the game has entered a bit of a lull, with half time approaching.
Yellow Card for Oriol Romeu (Southampton)
Romeu flies into a tackle on Shaqiri. He seemingly takes the ball, but the force of the challenge is punished with a booking regardless.
Wijnaldum fires over
Slick interplay from Liverpool as Firmino and Salah combine, before Saints get a foot in to halt the attack. The ball runs invitingly for Wijnaldum to strike from 25 yards, but it's far too high to trouble McCarthy.
Højbjerg's shot is blocked
Again, Saints show some form of threat going forward, as the ball breaks kindly for Højbjerg on the edge of the box. But as he shifts the ball on to his right foot, the Liverpool defence block his route to goal and the shot is cleared.
Matip heads home Liverpool's second
This will frustrate Mark Hughes. After Cédric's excellent intervention, Saints concede from the resulting corner. Alexander-Arnold's outswinging delivery is met by a towering header from Matip - of all the ways to concede a goal to this in-form Liverpool side, a set-piece is somewhere near the bottom of the list.
GOAL
Joel Matip (22’) | 2 – 0
Brilliant recovery tackle from Cédric 👏
Salah plays a neat one-two with Firmino and seemingly just has to pick his spot to double the lead, but back comes Cédric with a last-ditch tackle to put the ball behind for a corner. Great defending.
Promising attacking intent from Saints
Two quick-fire attacks from Saints give Liverpool something to worry about. First, Cédric's cross is punched clear by Alisson, before Redmond gets away from the retreating Firmino, but loses balance and fires the ball over. Perhaps he was clipped by the Brazilian, but it would have been a very soft penalty - not one you would expect as an away side in front of the Kop. Positive signs at least.
Vestergaard heads wide
A second half-chance for Saints. This time Targett's corner is planted straight on to the head of Vestergaard, but the towering defender is a long way out and cannot find the target with his powerful header.
Liverpool make the breakthrough
It's a soft goal for Saints to concede. Shaqiri's shot deflects off Long and strikes Hoedt on the thigh, and the defender is unable to prevent himself diverting the ball past the stranded McCarthy on the goal line.
OWN GOAL
Wesley Hoedt (10’) | 1 – 0
Long goes close!
Better from Saints! The ball is worked out to Targett on the left, who delivers an excellent low cross to the near post where Long is lurking, but van Dijk gets across to concede a corner.
Liverpool controlling possession
Saints are on the back foot but holding a good shape in the early minutes here. Plenty of the ball for the hosts, but still just that Firmino chance to report so far.
Firmino heads wide
First chance of the game is a Liverpool one... Shaqiri crosses from the right, but Cédric applies just enough pressure to ensure Firmino cannot direct his header on target, and the ball bounces well wide of the far post.
We're under way at Anfield!
Straight away Saints are on the front foot, as Nathan Redmond dribbles into the box, only to be outnumbered by a collection of retreating red shirts. Come on, Saints! 💪
We're ready to go!
The teams have exchanged pre-match handshakes and all that's left is the sound of that famous anthem ringing out around Anfield. "Oh when the Saints..." 🎶😇
14.59🔟 minutes to go! Anything else you need to know?
We've got every detail covered for this afternoon's Premier League encounter in our Match Pack! Help fill the gap between now and kick-off with our extended preview here.
14.51Could history repeat itself? 💭
Shane Long is back at Anfield, which instantly conjures memories of one moment in particular... Could the Irishman repeat the feat and bag his first goal of the season today?
14.38How important is this man today?
We got the lowdown from tactics writer Sam Tighe on the growing influence of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the Saints midfield, and why he is becoming an increasingly pivotal player ahead of his biggest test of the season to date. Read about the Dane's recent upturn here!
14.31
2️⃣ changes for Saints
Mark Hughes makes two changes to his side, as Mohamed Elyounoussi and Danny Ings (ineligible) drop out. Oriol Romeu comes in to strengthen the midfield, while Matt Targett, making his first Premier League start since Boxing Day, plays on the left to offer extra support in front of Ryan Bertrand.
14.07Liverpool team confirmed
Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Shaqiri, Salah, Firmino, Mané.
Subs: Mignolet, Gomez, Moreno, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, Sturridge.
14.02Saints team confirmed 👊
Starting XI: McCarthy, Cédric, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand, Redmond, Lemina, Romeu, Højbjerg, Targett, Long.
Saints are here! 😇
View our collection of photographs as the Saints players arrived at Anfield ahead of today's game. We'll have team news for you in ten minutes!
13.49Three in a row? 👀
What a strike this was! Relive Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's wonder goal against Brighton from all angles... could the Dane score again for the third game running?
13.27🎥 Watch the best bits from training!
Saints have been gearing up for today's game all week at Staplewood, where we caught the best of the action behind the scenes.
13.13💛💙
Back in yellow! Just as they were in victory at Crystal Palace last time out on the road, Saints are in yellow and blue again at Anfield. A lucky omen? 🤞
13.0912.37we're looking forward to it. they're in a rich vein of form, playing exceptionally well and getting results. it's not going to be easy for us, but i don't think that should give us any apprehension. we need to go there, be positive and see where it takes us.
mark hughessouthampton manager
What does Jürgen Klopp think of Saints?
Which of Mark Hughes's players does opposite number Klopp rate highly? Pretty much the whole team, as it happens... 💪
12.32Hear from the boss!
Want the thoughts of Saints manager Mark Hughes? We caught up with the boss at Staplewood this week to pick his brain ahead of our toughest test of the season to date.
11.57Remember this? 😍
Saints have happy memories of Anfield - Shane Long in particular, after this iconic strike secured a place in the Carabao Cup final in 2017. The Irishman could be Saints' key man again today in the absence of Danny Ings. Can Mark Hughes's men end Liverpool's perfect start? We're counting down to kick-off with all the build-up, team news, match updates and free commentary, so stay with us!
11.55It's matchday! 😇
Southampton return to Premier League action with a trip to Anfield. Hosts Liverpool still boast a one hundred per cent record in all competitions this season, sitting just below Chelsea on goal difference at the top of the table. Saints missed the chance to record back-to-back wins on Monday night against Brighton, but were victorious last time out on the road at Crystal Palace.
11.49LIV vs SOU Line Ups
Liverpool
| 13 |
Alisson (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 32 |
Joel Matip
|
| 4 |
Virgil van Dijk
Joseph Gomez (55′)
|
| 26 |
Andrew Robertson
|
| 66 |
Trent Alexander-Arnold
|
| 14 |
Jordan Henderson (C)
|
| 9 |
Roberto Firmino
|
| 10 |
Sadio Mané
|
| 23 |
Xherdan Shaqiri
James Milner (45′)
|
| 5 |
Georginio Wijnaldum
Naby Keita (70′)
|
| 11 |
Mohamed Salah
|
Substitutes
| 22 |
Simon Mignolet |
|---|---|
| 7 |
James Milner |
| 18 |
Alberto Moreno |
| 8 |
Naby Keita |
| 12 |
Joseph Gomez |
| 15 |
Daniel Sturridge |
| 3 |
Fabinho |
Southampton
| 1 |
Alex McCarthy (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 4 |
Jannik Vestergaard
|
| 2 |
Cédric Soares
|
| 6 |
Wesley Hoedt
|
| 21 |
Ryan Bertrand (C)
|
| 22 |
Nathan Redmond
|
| 14 |
Oriol Romeu
Jan Bednarek (55′)
|
| 18 |
Mario Lemina
|
| 23 |
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
|
| 33 |
Matt Targett
Stuart Armstrong (55′)
|
| 7 |
Shane Long
Charlie Austin (79′)
|
Substitutes
| 8 |
Steven Davis |
|---|---|
| 10 |
Charlie Austin |
| 17 |
Stuart Armstrong |
| 3 |
Maya Yoshida |
| 28 |
Angus Gunn |
| 35 |
Jan Bednarek |
| 16 |
James Ward-Prowse |
LIV vs SOU Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
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Possession (%)6139
-
Shots127
-
Shots on target41
-
Corners54
-
Passes Complete648388
