2 years ago
34
ARTICLE AD BOX
Darwin Nunez has scored 18 goals in his 25 league appearances in 2022 for Benfica and LiverpoolNathan Jones' Southampton reign got off to a losing start as Liverpool signed off for the break for the World Cup with a comfortable win at Anfield.
Roberto Firmino put the disappointment of missing out on a place in the Brazil squad for Qatar behind him by heading the Reds ahead before Saints equalised through the unmarked Che Adams.
In an entertaining game, two goals by Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez before half-time put Liverpool in control.
Nunez, one of seven Reds players heading for the World Cup as it stands, made it 2-1 when he poked past Gavin Bazunu from close range before tapping home the third after Andy Robertson's assist.
Liverpool would have won by more but for two outstanding stops by Bazunu, the 20-year-old denying both Mohamed Salah and Firmino at close range.
Reds keeper Alisson also produced a quality save to keep out Adams' header in the 77th-minute.
- Follow live text of Liverpool-Southampton, plus Saturday's Premier League latest
- Go straight to all the best Liverpool content
- Visit our Southampton page
Reds sign off for World Cup break in style
Liverpool started the day eighth in the table but temporarily moved up into sixth, five points off a Champions League spot, ahead of the games to come later on Saturday and on Sunday.
The Reds were without Ibrahima Konate and Jordan Henderson - who are due to go to the World Cup with France and England respectively - while manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to watch this game from the stands as he served a touchline ban.
Yet Liverpool's players enjoyed themselves in the absence of their German boss from the dugout as they scored all three goals in an enthralling opening 45 minutes.
The Reds have seven players going to the World Cup as it stands - Alisson (Brazil), Fabinho (Brazil), Konate (France), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England), Jordan Henderson (England), Nunez (Uruguay) and Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands).
Klopp will spend the next few weeks with those staying behind including Mohamed Salah and Firmino.
It was striking how all of Firmino's outfield team-mates celebrated with him after scoring his seventh Premier League goal of the season after the disappointment of his omission from Brazil's squad.
There was a landmark moment for 36-year-old James Milner when he came on in the second half for his 600th Premier League appearance.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Liverpool
Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Squad number2Player nameGomez
Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
Squad number26Player nameRobertson- Squad number19Player nameElliott
- Squad number3Player nameFabinho
- Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino- Squad number27Player nameNúñez
Squad number7Player nameMilner
Squad number15Player nameOxlade-Chamberlain- Squad number21Player nameTsimikas
- Squad number28Player nameFábio Carvalho
- Squad number47Player namePhillips
Southampton
- Squad number31Player nameBazunu
- Squad number37Player nameBella-Kotchap
- Squad number6Player nameCaleta-Car
- Squad number22Player nameSalisu
- Squad number15Player namePerraud
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse- Squad number45Player nameLavia
- Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi
- Squad number10Player nameAdams
- Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
- Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
- Squad number3Player nameMaitland-Niles
- Squad number4Player nameLyanco
- Squad number7Player nameAribo
- Squad number23Player nameEdozie
- Squad number32Player nameWalcott
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forPhillipsat 87'minutes
- 2Gomez
- 4van Dijk
- 26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 86'minutes
- 19ElliottSubstituted forMilnerat 68'minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 6Thiago Alcántara
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 75'minutes
- 27NúñezSubstituted forCarvalhoat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Milner
- 13Adrián
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 21Tsimikas
- 28Carvalho
- 43Bajcetic
- 47Phillips
- 50Doak
- 62Kelleher
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Bazunu
- 37Bella-KotchapSubstituted forLyancoat 72'minutes
- 6Caleta-CarBooked at 5minsSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 59'minutes
- 22SalisuBooked at 66mins
- 15Perraud
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 45LaviaSubstituted forAriboat 82'minutes
- 24Elyounoussi
- 10Adams
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forWalcottat 59'minutes
- 9A ArmstrongSubstituted forEdozieat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 4Lyanco
- 7Aribo
- 18Mara
- 19Djenepo
- 23Edozie
- 27Diallo
- 32Walcott
Referee:Simon Hooper
Attendance:53,331
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 3, Southampton 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Southampton 1.
James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mohammed Salisu (Southampton).
Offside, Southampton. James Ward-Prowse tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Konstantinos Tsimikas with a cross.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Lyanco.
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).
Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Konstantinos Tsimikas with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Substitution, Liverpool. Nathaniel Phillips replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Substitution, Liverpool. Fábio Carvalho replaces Darwin Núñez.
Substitution, Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson.
James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Romain Perraud (Southampton).
Attempt missed. Fabinho (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.
Substitution, Southampton. Joe Aribo replaces Roméo Lavia because of an injury.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Mohammed Salisu.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US) ·