Liverpool 3 Southampton 1 result - Mohamed Salah nets two goals and Nunez on target after Smallbone gave Saints lead

Southampton held a shock half-time lead at Anfield, but an equaliser from Darwin Nunez and two penalties from Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool's procession to the title continued.

Liverpool were far from their best in the first half and with Southampton defending valiantly they approached the interval with their goal intact and then went in front as Will Smallbone took advantage of a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, before slotting the ball inside the near post.

The Reds came out in the second half with a purpose, with Luis Diaz on the left a force Saints could not contain.

Diaz got to the byline and crossed for Nunez to guide home six minutes after the break and three minutes later the Uruguayan was clipped by Smallbone as he looked to make a clearance and Salah slotted home the spot kick.

Liverpool seemed set to settle for a win, which extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points, but the scoreline was given gloss when Salah crashed home another penalty after Yukinari Sugawara handled under pressure from Diaz.

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"He is a very important player for us," Salah told Optus Sport.

"I talk to him a lot as his head can go.

"But he made a difference against PSG in the week and again today."

"It was a tough game, they had a good game plan and it worked for them in the first half," Salah told Optus Sport after the game.

"There was a bit of frustration - in the first half the game was sloppy and we were slow.

"We are now more experienced and we can manage that situation.

"I don't think we were very good today. But if you want to win the Champions League and the Premier League you need to win games like that."

It looked like there might be an upset at half-time, but Liverpool showed the quality when they needed it to get in front and never looked threatened from that point onwards.

The centre back raced towards the Saints goal but substitute striker tracked him before pulling him down - deservedly receiving a card.

But no one can get on the end of it.

But Diaz is still operating at full tilt and almost got past Bella-Kotchap to have a run at goal but both fell to the floor after a coming together.

Ramsdale dives to his right and Salah smashes the ball into the roof of the opposite side of the net.

The arm came out from Sugawara as he pushed the ball away from Diaz with his elbow.

They have recommended the referee look at the screen. It is for a potential handball from Sugawara under pressure from Diaz.

Aribo and Onuocho come on for Manning and Ugochukwu.

But his shot with the outside of his left foot swerves wide of Ramsdale's right-hand post.

They are not showing great desire to put another past Southampton. You wonder if the Saints could get level if they pressure the hosts now.

But Bella-Kotchap heads the ball clear.