Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog.
Even the most die-hard Southampton fan would be hard-pressed to make a case for their side prevailing this afternoon.
Liverpool have won their last 19 home Premier League games on the trot, including all 12 this season.
They also won their last six games with the Saints and could go an incredible 22 points clear at the top of the table if they triumph today.
The Reds are without former Southampton star Sadio Mane, but should still have more than enough to overcome a side who current sit ninth in the table, 39 points behind them.
Confirmation of today’s teams…
📋 #LIVSOU TEAM NEWS 📋
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 1, 2020
Today's line-up to face @SouthamptonFC...https://t.co/t5iBDGq3lK
🚨 T E A M S H E E T 🚨
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 1, 2020
Here's the #SaintsFC side that will be taking on #LFC this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/UalG11q0fE
In addition to it being a momentous day for Long, Irish youngsters Michael Obafemi and Will Smallbone are on the bench.
The 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ club has a new member! 😇
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 1, 2020
Congratulations on a double century of #SaintsFC appearances, @ShaneLong7! 👏 pic.twitter.com/WCGg3X96bH
We’re underway…
Not much action to speak of so far.
Moussa Djenepo has just cynically taken down Oxlade-Chamberlain, after good play in the build-up by Fabinho.
Andy Robertson badly overhits the subsequent free kick though, producing uncharacteristically poor delivery.
There are claims for a backpass, after Robertson, under pressure from an attacker, appears to play it to Alisson, who picks it up.
The referee waves play on, much to Southampton’s frustration.
Despite boldly opting to play with two strikers, Southampton have looked pretty comfortable so far.
Neither side has had a single shot on target yet, while Liverpool have enjoyed 68% of the possession.
As I type, Alexander-Arnold’s cross hits the roof of the net.
Oxlade-Chamberlain lays it off to Salah.
The Egyptian’s shot from the edge of the area is deflected just wide via a vital touch from Ward-Prowse.
The game is becoming a bit more open and Liverpool are looking increasingly threatening.
As I type, Fabinho slips through Wijnaldum, but the Dutch midfielder can’t quite get a hold of his shot, and it’s an easy save for McCarthy.
Down the other end, Djenepo’s powerful strike from the edge of the area is parried behind for a corner by Alisson.
Big chance!
Salah picks out Van Dijk with a long ball.
McCarthy does well to smother the shot before also stopping the rebound from Firmino.
Moments later, a cross comes in and Long appears to impede Firmino, who others would have had a clear header into the empty net.
However, after a VAR check, the Irish international is not penalised for his actions.
Redmond receives the ball in plenty of space and shoots narrowly wide from about 30 yards out.
Southampton are well in this game at the moment.
Southampton continue to cause Liverpool problems.
Bertrand’s lofted pass finds Long.
The Irishman initially tries to pick out Ings.
That pass is cut out, before the ball deflects back to the Tipperary native and he tests Alisson with a pot shot.
Gomez dallies on the ball.
Ings robs him, but Alisson is quick off his line to make the save.
This is an excellent spell for Southampton.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 SOUTHAMPTON
So half-time, and it’s been an intriguing encounter.
Southampton have looked impressive, while Liverpool are below-par.
The visitors have defended well for the most part, and will be ruing a couple of decent missed chances towards the end of that first half.
Jurgen Klopp needs to galvanise his men at the break, as they bid to maintain their winning run.
Meanwhile, at Bournemouth…
🍒 The Bournemouth hierarchy are taking no chances at the Vitality Stadium with their club-branded face masks 😷 pic.twitter.com/UcW8rPUo8g
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 1, 2020
The second half has begun…
LIVERPOOL 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON (OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN 47)
There are claims for a penalty down one end, as Ings goes down under a challenge from Fabinho in the area.
Liverpool then break. Firmino lays it to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who produces a powerful low shot from the edge of the area that McCarthy can do nothing about.
It’s the former Arsenal midfielder’s seventh goal in all competitions this season.
There is more of a swagger to Liverpool’s play now that they’re ahead.
You can feel the sense of relief around Anfield.
Liverpool have the ball in the net, but it’s marginally offside.
It was still a nice goal, with Firmino playing through Salah, who finishes consummately.
Gary Lineker seems to think Southampton should have had a penalty before the goal and replays suggest he may be correct.
Goodness me @SouthamptonFC had a strong shout for a penalty turned down and @LFC went straight down the other end and scored. VAR didn’t overturn the penalty. Judge for yourself whether they should have on @BBCMOTD . 🤔
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 1, 2020
Ings’ shot is deflected narrowly wide.
Liverpool’s former player has been a persistent threat up front today.
LIVERPOOL 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON (HENDERSON 60)
Firmino beats the offside trap.
The Brazil international then brilliantly picks out Henderson with a cutback and the England midfielder finishes well for his third goal of the season.
Ings plays in Højbjerg, but Gomez is in the right place to deflect his shot out for a corner.
Southampton have more than matched Liverpool for long stretches of this game. They just haven’t been clinical enough at crucial moments.
The pass from Trent 😍
— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) February 1, 2020
The touch and pass from Bobby 😍
The finish from Hendo 😍 pic.twitter.com/Q88N1G4LbV
Southampton make a double change.
Obafemi and Che Adams replace Long and Ings.
Southampton’s strikers have both worked very hard but haven’t done enough from an attacking perspective.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 SOUTHAMPTON (SALAH 72)
The influential Henderson plays a perfectly weighted through pass to Salah.
The Egyptian only needs one touch, dinking it over McCarthy to put the outcome of this game beyond doubt.
Keita, who has just replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain, slides through Firmino.
McCarthy is alert though, and does well to get down quickly and block the shot.
Liverpool make another change with this game all but over.
Minamino replaces Wijnaldum.
Boufal, who has only just replaced Djenepo, curls a decent attempt narrowly wide.
Down the other end, Liverpool break through Salah. The Egyptian tees up Minamino, who can’t hit the target with the goal at his mercy.
Liverpool make a final change.
Henderson, who is a strong contender for man of the match, goes off to a standing ovation.
Lallana comes on in his place.
LIVERPOOL 4-0 SOUTHAMPTON (SALAH 90)
Salah and Firmino link up brilliantly not for the first time.
The Brazilian ultimately crosses for his Egyptian colleague, who scrambles the ball over the line despite the best attempts of McCarthy and the Southampton defenders.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-0 SOUTHAMPTON
11 - Mohamed Salah has scored more home goals in this season's @premierleague (11) than any other player; indeed, since he joined Liverpool in 2017, only Lionel Messi (51) and Robert Lewandowski (44) have more home goals in Europe's big-five leagues than the Egyptian (43). King. pic.twitter.com/aDngTpXRwj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 1, 2020
So that’s that.
Southampton caused Liverpool problems and had a particularly strong spell towards the end of the first half.
They will point to the Ings penalty claim just before the opening goal as a turning point in the match.
In the end though, Liverpool had too much pace, power, stamina and quality for their opponents.
They scored some really well-taken goals and were deserving winners, as they consolidated their substantial lead at the top of the table.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow.
You can read our match report here.
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