Egyptian Mohamed Salah scored a brace for his team, Liverpool, against its host, Southampton, to emerge victorious 3-2 on Sunday in the twelfth round of the English Premier League.
Liverpool raised its score to 31 points out of a possible 36, moving it away by 8 points from its direct competitor Manchester City, champion of the past four seasons, which fell resoundingly at home at this stage to Tottenham 0-4 on Saturday.
Liverpool will meet Manchester City in particular next week at its home stadium, Anfield, in an anticipated confrontation.
Liverpool prepared in the best possible way to face Real Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday.
Liverpool started the match by pressing the hosts’ goal, but goalkeeper Alex McCarthy blocked three of Salah’s attempts with a half-volley shot (21st), then Hungarian Dominik Soboslai (25th) and Dutchman Cody Khakpo (27th).
Liverpool’s pressure paid off when Southampton’s defense made a mistake in removing the ball from its penalty area, and it reached Soboslaj, who shot it spiraling, hitting the post and crashing into the net (30).
The goal is Soboslaj’s first in the league this season in 12 matches.
The referee awarded a penalty kick to Southampton after Scottish Andy Robertson interfered with Tyler Dibbling, but Adam Armstrong blocked it, but Liverpool’s Irish goalkeeper Caoamhin Kelleher blocked it without catching it, so Armstrong returned it to the net (42).
At the beginning of the second half, Southampton succeeded in advancing from a counterattack through Portuguese Mateus Fernandes following an individual effort from Debling and a decisive pass from Armstrong, which he followed into the net (56).
However, Liverpool were able to equalize following a lapse by the Southampton goalkeeper, who left his goal at an unjustified time following a long forward ball that Salah deftly dunked into the net (65).
Liverpool continued its advantage and was able to advance via a penalty kick following a handball inside the area, which Salah (83rd) scored, raising his score to 10 goals this season, ranking second in the top scorers’ standings behind Manchester City’s Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland.
Salah missed the opportunity to score a hat-trick when he shot a ball “on the fly” that hit the bottom of the post and went out (87).
Later, Iposic Town will meet Manchester United in the first official match for the latter’s Portuguese coach, Ruben Amorim.
