KLOPP GOT MOJO BACK

Liverpool ..... 3 Southampton...0 Salah’s given poorly Jurgen lift & beaten Fowler’s record

MOHAMED SALAH scored twice at Anfield to notch nine in 12 Premier League games.

That put him ahead of Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler who marked his first dozen appearances with eight goals.

Philippe Coutinho made it a comprehensive 3-0 victory with a second-half strike.

It was the perfect pick-me-up for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his midweek spell in a local hospital.

The heavy defeat left Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino with a headache on his return to Merseyside, where he played for Liverpool and coached under Rafa Benitez.

And for Saints defender – and Reds’ summer transfer target – Virgil van Dijk it was a teaser of where he will probably be in the new year – enjoying the ride instead of loathing every minute of being given the runaround.

Klopp praised Salah’s double contribution and said: “What can I say? It’s a good moment.

“A fantastic goal and the second was fantastic play. But they are a really good football team so thank God we scored.

“It looked more mature. We’re still in there and that’s good. Man City are flying but we cannot change that.”

Pellegrino will pray for more fight from his team and said: “We have to react and show our best face next week.

“We were really disappointed with the second goal. We felt we couldn’t do any more to get back into the game and that’s worrying.”

Southampton could have been down and out as early as the ninth minute with an almighty scare.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was inches away from getting a boot to the ball and keeper Fraser Forster caused panic with his handling.

Liverpool seriously threatened again in the 22nd minute when Sadio Mane found Georginio Wijnaldum and his curling shot was pushed away by Forster.

Then Coutinho was mighty close to opening the scoring with a low effort Forster managed to keep out with his fingertips.

But there was no stopping

Salah from scoring in the 31st minute.

Dusan Tadic got caught in possession and when the ball was worked out to Salah he brilliantly curled into the top corner with his lethal left foot.

Ten minutes later, Salah notched his second. Coutinho threaded through a superb pass with the outside of his boot and Salah neatly tucked the ball beyond Forster.

Southampton picked themselves up, dusted themselves down and came back out fighting for the second half with more purpose and poise in front of goal.

But the biggest threat belonged again to Liverpool with Coutinho, fed by Salah, surging through, only to see his low drive finish the wrong side of the post.

There was no mistake from the Brazilian, though, when he grabbed the third in the 68th minute.

Mane picked out Roberto Firmino with a delightful reverse pass and Liverpool’s No.9 blasted into Forster’s barrel chest.

Saints thought they had escaped punishment but the ball cannoned out into Coutinho’s path and he hammered into the bottom corner.

And that was it – game over. All that was left, apart from a Firmino sizzler past the upright, was a standing ovation for Salah when he was subbed with 10 minutes left – and a hug from the Liverpool boss.

Meanwhile, left-back Alberto Moreno celebrated the three points – and the arrival of his newborn son Alberto junior.

The Liverpool defender dashed off to the Wirral after the final whistle to see his baby for the first time after missing the birth on Friday night.

Moreno was given permission by Klopp to be at his wife Lilia’s bedside but chose to stay in the team hotel.

Klopp said: “Yes, he was in the hotel – sorry.”