Liverpool vs Southampton LIVE
Liverpool have taken the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points - albeit temporarily with Arsenal not in action until Sunday afternoon, after coming from a goal down to beat Southampton at Anfield.
Arne Slot called on Liverpool to treat the game as “the first of three finals in the next week”, before Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and then the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle next Sunday. However, a defensive mix-up in first-half injury time between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker resulted in Will Smallbone breaking the deadlock.
Though after Darwin Nunez had equalised early in the second half, Mohamed Salah got the goal from the penalty spot to become the third-highest scorer in Liverpool history outright with 242. He scored again from 12 yards out to seal all three points for the Reds and continued their relentless march towards the Premier League title. Follow the game back below with our dedicated match blog.
Liverpool vs Southampton latest
- GOAL! Salah converts second penalty
- GOAL! Salah scores penalty
- GOAL! Nunez equalises
- GOAL! Smallbone breaks the deadlock
- Team news: No Gakpo for Liverpool
Salah reveals Slot reaction
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool star Mohamed Salah has revealed Arne Slot was “going for us” at half-time against Southampton.
The Reds trailed at the break as Will Smallbone took advantage of a rare defensive mix-up involving Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk to give the Premier League’s bottom team a shock lead at the home of the runaway leaders.
However, Liverpool were much improved after the break and equalised six minutes into the second half as Darwin Nunez turned home Luis Diaz’s cross from close range before winning a penalty moments later.
Liverpool come from behind to seal huge win
17:12 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 and opened up a 16-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds trailed at the break following a rare defensive mistake involving Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, but stepped it up in the second half with Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both getting on the scoresheet to ensure the league leaders moved one step closer to being crowned champions of England.
Prior to the game, Arne Slot called on his Liverpool side to treat the visit of the Saints as “the first of three finals in the next week”, before Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and then the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle next Sunday.
Click here for our match report!
FULL-TIME
17:02 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool 3-1 Southampton
Job done for Liverpool in the end as they come from behind to win.
Reds now SIXTEEN points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
16:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+5 min: Onuachu is booked for a foul on Konate.
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
16:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+1 min: VAR check and clear a penalty claim for Southampton as Quansah appeared to pull Archer back.
Nothing given.
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
16:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90 min: SEVEN minutes of added time.
Liverpool 3-1 Southampton
16:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: Quansah replaces Alexander-Arnold for the final few minutes.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Southampton | Mohamed Salah '87
16:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: GOALLLLL
No mistake from Mohamed Salah as he sends Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne86 min: Referee comes across to the monitor and a penalty is awarded.
Sugawara penalised for handball.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne84 min: Referee stops play as Luis Diaz is down.
VAR checking for a possible penalty.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Two more Southampton changes.
Manning and Ugochukwu replaced by Aribo and Onuachu.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: Elliott lets fly from range but the ball is always curling away from the goal.
Another Liverpool change as Endo replaces Gravenberch.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne76 min: Heart in mouth moment for Liverpool fans as Diaz appeared to have an issue but the winger is fine.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne72 min: Lallana replaces Smallbone.
A warm reception for the ex-Liverpool midfielder.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne70 min: A warning for Liverpool as Archer forces a fine save from Alisson.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne63 min: Double Southampton change.
Sugawara and Archer replace Gronbaek and Dibling.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne61 min: Chants of “we’re gonna win the league” ring around Anfield.
Liverpool, as things stand, will be 16 points clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne60 min: Luis Diaz has really upped his levels in the second half, another one of his driving runs sees the ball fall to Alexander-Arnold who flashes an effort wide.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
16:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne58 min: Southampton are, understandably, shell-shocked.
From being in a winning position to trailing within three minutes has been a real gut punch.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Southampton | Mohamed Salah '55
16:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne55 min: GOALLLLLL
Mohamed Salah tucks away the penalty and he is now third-highest scorer in Liverpool history outright with 242.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
16:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne52 min: LIVERPOOL HAVE A PENALTY
Smallbone kicks through Nunez and Liverpool are awarded a spot-kick.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Southampton | Darwin Nunez '51
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: GOALLLLLLLL
Darwin Nunez’s long wait for a goal is over and it’s all down to great play from Luis Diaz down the left.
Good movement and a good finish from Nunez. 1-1.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
16:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne49 min: One way traffic at the start of this second half, as you would expect with Liverpool trailing.
They have certainly upped the pace as Robertson deflects Alexander-Arnold’s shot over the bar.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne47 min: Liverpool straight on the attack at the start of the second half. Quick VAR check for a penalty which is cleared.
Corner swung in, Salah sets the ball back for Elliott who forces a fine save from Ramsdale.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
16:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne46 min: Back underway at Anfield.
Triple change for Liverpool as Robertson, Mac Allister and Elliott are on. Szoboszlai, Jones and Tsimikas are off.
HALF-TIME!
15:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool 0-1 Southampton
Will Smallbone's goal in first-half injury time is the difference at the break.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
15:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+4 min: Nothing additional following the VAR check as Nunez’s yellow stays a yellow.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+3 min: Really poor challenge from Nunez on Walker-Peters.
VAR checking this for a potential red card.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Southampton | Will Smallbone '45
15:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: GOALLLLLLLL
Southampton take the lead. A defensive mix-up involving Virgil van Dijk and Alisson leads to Will Smallbone breaking the deadlock.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: Five minutes of added time has been signalled.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne43 min: Nunez finds a bit of space, heads the ball down for Jones who has an effort blocked.
Ball recycled and Jones picks out Alexander-Arnold whose teasing cross is cut out for a corner from which Jones’ header finds Nunez and he turns and shoots over.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne40 min: Diaz cuts in and shoots but his effort ends up in the stands rather than in the back of the net.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne38 min: Dibling looks to drive from deep, fancies his chances against Gravenberch but the Liverpool midfielder matches him stride for stride to win back possession.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne37 min: Fernandes looks to pick out Gronbaek in the area, but the Saints midfielder misjudges the flight of the ball and it runs out for a goal-kick.
Decent opening that, visitors are showing signs of intent when they do get forward.
Harwood-Bellis throws himself in front of Alexander-Arnold’s shot before Manning makes another crucial interception.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne35cmin: Tsimikas swings in a cross intended for Nunez but the Liverpool striker is given a slight nudge by Harwood-Bellis and can’t generate enough power on his header.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne32 min: Needless corner conceded by Nunez. If he leaves the ball, Alisson claims it under no pressure.
Regardless, van Dijk deals with the resulting corner before a sensational pass from Alexander-Arnold sets Salah free but the winger’s cross is cut out as the Saints get enough bodies back.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne31 min: Arne Slot watches on from the stands once again as Tsimikas is the first player shown a yellow card this afternoon.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne29 min: Better from Liverpool as Gravenberch fires a pass into Nunez, he has time and space - probably more than he expected - turns and shoots but the effort is easily saved by Ramsdale.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne28 min: Manning penalised for intentional handball. The Southampton left-back felt he had won a free-kick after feeling he was pushed by Salah.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne27 min: Ramsdale to the rescue for Southampton as he rushes off his line to thwart Alexander-Arnold.
Then at the other end, Liverpool defend well as Gronbaek looked to find a way through.
Darwin Nunez, on the stretch, then heads over after the ball was flicked on by Jones.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne22 min: Another corner for Southampton after Sulemana does really well. Equally good defending from Alexander-Arnold.
Nunez heads this one away but only as far to Fernandes who strikes the ball at goal but Alisson is equal to it.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne20 min: Opportunity for Southampton, their first of the game, after Alexander-Arnold concedes a corner.
Harwood-Bellis meets the delivery but heads the ball straight at Alisson.
A routine save for the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne18 min: Bednarek is back to his feet, but he doesn’t look good. A sub is the best choice of action here and the Southampton captain is replaced by Bella-Kotchap.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne14 min: Nasty clash of heads between Bednarek and Manning.
Both are down and require treatment, though Bednarek looks to have come off much worse.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne13 min: Dangerous stuff from Southampton as they try to play out from the back, it all looks a bit messy and Ramsdale ends up giving up possession by booting the ball up the pitch where van Dijk is able to clean up.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne11 min: Good defending from Manning in a 1v1 situation with Salah. The Saints left-back will have to stay alert all afternoon.
Fernandes does well to win a throw-in for the visitors.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne10 min: Southampton are struggling to get a foothold in the game. Bednarek has to come across to stop Luis Diaz, though there is concern for the Liverpool forward as he crashed into the advertising boardings.
He is fine to continue.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne5 min: It has been all Liverpool so far, Jones should break the deadlock but he misses the target completely with an effort from just inside the area.
Why is Arne Slot not in the dugout?
15:02 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArne Slot is serving the second, and final, game two of his two-game touchline ban today, along with assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
As was the case against Newcastle, John Heitinga, will be the man in the dugout.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
15:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: Liverpool straight on the attack but Jones sees his effort charged down and then cleared away.
KICK-OFF!
15:01 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAway we go in this Premier League clash!
Here we go!
14:57 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe players have emerged from the tunnel area at Anfield and out onto the pitch.
Time for the player handshakes and then kick-off.
Not long now!
14:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLess than 10 minutes to go until kick-off at Anfield!
As it stands
14:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool can move a massive SIXTEEN points clear at the top of the table with a win this afternoon and it will really feel like it's a matter of when, not if, they are crowned Premier League champions.
Saints know that even a surprise win at Anfield will not be enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.
Warm-ups
14:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe players are going through their final preparations ahead of this afternoon’s Premier League clash.
Kick-off is in 20 minutes!
Ali stepping out at Anfield 👏@AXA | #Ad pic.twitter.com/Tafz9e4lsX
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2025
Around the grounds
14:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBrighton vs Fulham
Crystal Palace vs Ipswich
Brentford vs Aston Villa - 5.30pm GMT
Wolves vs Everton - 8pm GMT
Just the two other 3pm GMT kick-offs in the Premier League today. There's already been one result with Nottingham Forest beating Manchester City.
Big opportunity for Darwin Nunez
14:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHarvey Elliott may have scored Liverpool’s late winner against PSG, but the goal owed a lot to Darwin Nunez’s hold up play and pass.
The Uruguayan has been rewarded with a start today and he has a massive opportunity to show why he should be the first-choice centre-forward option for Arne Slot.
Liverpool dressing room
14:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBehind the scenes at Anfield as Liverpool’s dressing room is prepared ahead of kick-off.
Southampton XI
14:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe visitors will be in their changed kit at Anfield...
Tyler Dibling is one of six Southampton players recalled this afternoon and the youngster can cause issues if given too much time and space.
Our line-up at Liverpool 😇 pic.twitter.com/treuhc2OhI
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 8, 2025
Liverpool XI reminder
14:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA reminder of how the hosts will line up this afternoon...
The Reds to take on Southampton this afternoon 👊 #LIVSOU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2025
Last time out
14:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt was a five-goal thriller in the reverse meeting earlier in the season. Liverpool, at one stage, trailed 2-1 but a brace from Mohamed Salah secured all three points.
Mo makes it 100 goal away from Anfield 👏
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 7, 2025
Szobo's stunner and Salah's brace rescued the points at St Marys earlier this season ✨ pic.twitter.com/75tmw5Lg3G
Southampton changes
14:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSeveral changes to the side that started the 4-0 defeat by Chelsea last time out. Six in total as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Tyler Dibling and Jan Bednarek among those returning to the XI. Lesley Ugochukwu is also back having been ineligible to face his parent club.
Adam Lallana is among the substitutes against his former club.
Salah record
13:59 , Giuseppe MuroMohamed Salah needs one goal to become the third-highest scorer in Liverpool’s history outright with 242.
And Salah needs two more Premier League goals to go joint-fifth on the all-time Premier League goalscorer’s chart alongside Sergio Aguero with 184.
Salah has scored or assisted a goal in 12 of Liverpool’s 13 Premier League games at Anfield this season, including each of his last 11 in a row since their only Premier League defeat of the season so far against Nottingham Forest in September.
Liverpool changes
13:54 , Giuseppe MuroSo Arne Slot resists the urge to make wholesale changes.
Slot was always likely to rotate ahead of two big games next week but makes just three changes from the team that won 1-0 at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Konstantinos Tsimikas, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez come in for Andy Roberton, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota.
Gakpo misses out again due to a minor ankle injury.
Team news: No Gakpo for Liverpool
13:45 , Giuseppe MuroLiverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Robertson, McConnell, Quansah
Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Manning, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Smallbone, Fernandes, Gronbaek, Kamaldeen, Dibling
Subs: McCarthy, Sugawara, Welington, Stephens, Bella-Kotchap, Aribo, Lallana, Archer, Onuachu
Team news coming up from Anfield shortly...
Juric: Facing Liverpool not mission impossible
13:29 , Giuseppe MuroIvan Juric insists it is not mission impossible for basement club Southampton on Merseyside.
Today’s fixture is a meeting of sides lying 13 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table and 13 clear at the top.
Southampton are on just nine points, having lost all but five of their 27 games in a miserable campaign.
But Juric said: “It's never mission impossible. We will try to do our best and we will see.
“Before the match, I'm always optimistic and then after, maybe I think differently. But before the match, I always see the possibility of doing something good.”
Southampton vs Liverpool stats
13:22 , Giuseppe Muro- Liverpool have won 11 of their last 13 Premier League games against Southampton, with the exceptions being a 1-0 loss in January 2021 and a 4-4 draw in May 2023, both at St Mary’s Stadium
- Liverpool won 3-2 against Southampton in the reverse fixture with the Reds top and Saints bottom of the table. This will be the fourth time in Premier League history both meetings between two sides have been as the top and bottom side in the division
- There are 58 points between Liverpool (67) and Southampton (9) coming into this match, which is the biggest points difference between two sides coming into a Premier League meeting since July 2020
- Liverpool have scored at least twice in 25 of their Premier League games this season, at least 10 more than any other side
Today’s setting...
Slot warning for Liverpool
13:08 , Giuseppe MuroArne Slot has urged Liverpool players and fans to treat today like a final and not be distracted by their Champions League exploits against Paris Saint-Germain.
A game against one of the worst teams of the Premier League era is not one to get the pulses racing.
After Wednesday's smash-and-grab 1-0 win in Paris, the attention is understandably on next week's last-16 second leg and then the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle.
But Slot has issued a plea for everyone to get on board for the visit of Saints, saying: "For me the one against Southampton is by far the most important.
"I have to convince my players we play three finals and I am hoping that I influence our fans so they understand how important they are going to be.
"I hope they will not come into the stadium five minutes before kick-off, I'm hoping the stadium is already filled half-an-hour before so these players get the reward for what they did in Paris.
"I know the final is there and everyone is already talking to me about how the atmosphere will be on a Champions League night but truly I hope our fans will be at their loudest tomorrow."
Southampton vs Liverpool latest odds
13:05 , Giuseppe MuroLiverpool to win: 1/9
Draw: 19/20
Southampton to win: 20/1
Odds via Betfair and subject to change
Head to head history and results
13:01 , Giuseppe MuroLiverpool wins: 64
Draws: 26
Southampton wins: 31
Prediction
12:54 , Giuseppe MuroSouthampton ran Liverpool pretty close in the reverse fixture earlier this season but appear to have regressed under Ivan Juric in recent weeks.
Anything other than a convincing Liverpool win would be a major surprise.
Liverpool to win, 4-0.
Southampton team news
12:47 , Giuseppe MuroAdam Lallana is available to face his former side after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Lesley Ugochukwu is back in contention after being ineligible to face parent club Chelsea last time out.
Jan Bednarek is in line to return after missed the Chelsea defeat through injury and Taylor Harwood-Bellis could get his first start in over a month after recovering from an ankle issue.
James Bree has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Liverpool team news
12:39 , Giuseppe MuroArne Slot has said it will be another “close call” whether Cody Gakpo is fit after he missed Wednesday’s 1-0 smash-and-grab-away win at Paris Saint-Germain with a minor ankle injury.
Slot has hinted he is ready to rotate his side and Harvey Elliott is pushing for a start after his late winner in Paris.
Some key Liverpool players could be rested for the first of a run of three big games over the next week.
“If, if I make the choice to play other players, that is because I think that is the biggest chance to win the game tomorrow and not because I want to rest them for the game against Paris Saint-Germain,” said Slot on Friday.
“So, the only way I make a change is because it's only two days in between, and then I might feel that playing someone else is a better option, because we have many players that are of equal quality.
“But that then only has to do with us getting a bigger chance of winning the game against Southampton than it has anything to do with the PSG.”
How to watch
12:34 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel and live stream: The game will not be broadcast in the UK as it takes place behind the 3pm blackout in Britain.
Free highlights: Highlights of the game will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.30pm GMT on BBC One.
Good afternoon
12:32 , Giuseppe MuroHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Southampton!
Can Liverpool continue their march towards the Premier League title? Arne Slot’s side are heavy favourites to swat away bottom side Southampton and extend their lead over Arsenal at the top of the table to 16 points.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 3pm GMT from Anfield. Stick with us!
