Jügen Klopp’s Liverpool beat Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton FC 4-0 – thanks to a superb brace from Diogo Jota.
After the 2-0 win against FC Porto, Klopp changed half of the starting eleven. Minamino, Tsimikas, Matip, Williams, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Morton stayed out, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Diogo Jota and van Dijk returned to the starting line-up. Saints coach Ralph Hassenhüttl was not quite as rotational, but still brought three new players into the starting eleven in a 3-4-3 system compared to the 1-2 loss at Norwich City: Perraud, Lyanco and Broja started for Diallo, Walker-Peters and Elyounoussi.
Portuguese lightning start
In a brisk opening period, the Reds went ahead early and scored in the 2nd minute through Jota. Only about ten minutes later, the favourites supposedly added the 2:0 through Mané (13th), who, however, was just offside when he scored. Southampton rarely managed to put pressure on LFC’s midfield centre, which used the space to make good passes.
Double Diogo Jota
So Salah created the home side’s next chance after just over a quarter of an hour (17th). The Saints initially struggled to get in front of Allison’s goal, but had a top chance to equalise through Broja after a mistake by the opposing defence (24). Less than ten minutes later, however, Jota was on hand again to make it 2-0 for the home side (32nd), before Thiago added the Reds’ third goal in the 38th. Southampton, meanwhile, also failed to take advantage of their second good chance through Armstrong just before the break (45th).
Solid Liverpool play down lead easily
The picture did not change in the second half: The first good chance belonged to Mané, the subsequent corner was converted by van Dijk for 4:0 (52.), while the visitors missed a double chance through Armstrong (54.). As a result, the game calmed down considerably. Southampton seemed to resign themselves to defeat, while Liverpool no longer pushed for further goals. In the last half hour, another chance for Diogo Jota, who just missed his treble (74.), was the only highlight.
Liverpool jumped temporarily to second place in the table and can go into next Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at city rivals Everton with a broad chest and have reduced the gap to leaders Chelsea (against Man United on Sunday) to one point.