Speedy Salah runs over Southampton
Mohamed Salah spent most of the second half at Anfield chasing a hat-trick.
It is the only thing the sprinter supreme has failed to catch since he arrived at Liverpool.
His manager, Jurgen Klopp, opted to substitute Salah with 10 minutes left, sparing not only the Egyptian’s legs for exertions ahead but those of Southampton’s defenders. Salah’s double exhausted them.
Klopp offered an apologetic hug after denying the winger more time to complete the mission, but Salah’s work was done and he was given the standing ovation he deserved.
The comfort of this win should not be underplayed. Liverpool failed to score in four attempts against the Saints last season, a stubborn defence extending beyond resistance to mega offers for Saints players. Liverpool did not have Salah to unpick defences then.
He was signed to create but is rewriting goal records. Not since Robbie Fowler has anyone started a Liverpool career in such prolific form. Salah took his tally to 14 in 18 games, nine in 12 Premier League fixtures. Fowler struck eight in that time back in the early Nineties
Salah’s first yesterday on 31 minutes had a dash of Kenny Dalglish picking out the top corner with a dipping, swerving shot from the edge of the penalty area.
At first glance, it seemed Fraser Forster ought to have got closer. At second, it was evident the Southampton keeper had no chance.
Four minutes before the interval, Salah had his second, drifting inward from the right wing to latch on to the kind of Philippe Coutinho pass that carries as much gravitas as the finish. Salah nudged past Forster with his lethal left foot and Liverpool’s superiority was confirmed.
“The first one is not a real chance. It was a fantastic goal,” said Klopp. “The second? Fantastic play. What a pass.”
The home side had started menacingly, the advancing of Trent Alexander-Arnold especially prominent, but there was a pleasing pace to their performance.
The quartet of Salah, Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino brought wisdom as much as quality, the feeling a goal would come long before it was spectacularly delivered.
Southampton were organised without being in full retreat but finding it impossible to escape.
“We started well but then made a couple of mistakes which you cannot against this type of game,” said coach Mauricio Pellegrino. “After the second goal, it was really difficult.”
At least one of his defenders was prompting admiration in his efforts to repel Klopp’s attackers.
Five months after his attempts to join the Merseyside club, Virgil van Dijk had finally made it to Anfield, and there was not a Premier League complaint in sight.
The Kop was not sure whether to cheer or jeer. The only applause granted to the defender was late on, and that was ironic as he sliced a clearance. Van Dijk had a glimpse of what he has been denied, helpless as the runners kept scurrying his direction through the second half.
Liverpool squandered several opportunities to extend their lead, Alberto Moreno especially eager to celebrate becoming a father for the second time after his wife gave birth on Friday, but the third arrived courtesy of Coutinho, pouncing after Forster was unable to hold Firmino’s strike.
Liverpool are quietly in form, with 13 goals in four consecutive wins since their humbling 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last month.
This time last season, an irresistible start to the season was undermined in the build-up to Christmas. This year, they look equipped to pick up the pace to reassert their top-four challenge.
“It looked much more mature, and that is very important for us,” said Klopp. “It was just an all-round good performance and really deserved.”