Darwin Nunez leads Liverpool to victory: On Saturday afternoon, Liverpool won 3-1 at home against Southampton in their final Premier League match before the World Cup.
Both teams scored from set pieces in the first ten minutes, with Che Adams canceling out Roberto Firmino’s opening goal. Darwin Nunez scored a brace in the first half by taking advantage of Southampton’s erratic but aggressive defending.
After the break, Liverpool seemed to ease off the gas, barely threatening a four until a final flurry while relying on Alisson to keep up his stellar shot-blocking form.
Firmino responded sharply to his exclusion from the World Cup squad. At a set piece, the Brazilian pulled himself away from the crowd of tussling bodies and looped a header over his shoulder. Gavin Bazunu was unable to lumber along his line and trip over himself as the ball arced lazily towards the bottom corner of the goal in time as Firmino gave Liverpool the lead in the sixth minute.
The Southampton set piece was converted by Adams after only 186 seconds had passed. Adams, who was evading Joe Gomez, flicked Alisson’s dangerous delivery from James Ward-Prowse, becoming the first Southampton player to score a Premier League goal at Anfield since Sadio Mane in 2015.
After 21 minutes, the player ostensibly in charge of replacing Mane for Liverpool this year gave the Reds the lead once more. Before Harvey Elliott’s delicate ball that was tickled into Nunez’s stride, Liverpool threw a barrage of crosses into the area. Nunez cushioned a calm volley into the far corner despite the rage and chaos in his play.
After taking over for Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones was only given one training session, but he undoubtedly received the “lift in energy” he requested prior to the game. However, Southampton’s front-foot play led to a chaotic exchange as Liverpool sprinted ahead after the initial wave of pressure was broken.
Bazunu had to make two smothering saves either side of Nunez’s goal, but the Uruguayan beat the goalkeeper once more just before halftime.
With a masterfully planned team move that took advantage of Liverpool’s mobile front line’s strengths (and Southampton’s newly reconfigured rearguard’s widening gaps), the hosts increased their lead. As Liverpool’s widest player on the left, Andy Robertson, Firmino’s pass was slid through for him by the frontline drop-off. Nunez gleefully snatched up a low pass into the box that the Scot fluffed.
For the final 30 minutes, Jones switched his lineup, abandoning the back three he frequently used at Luton Town in favor of a 4-3-3. Within seconds of the change, Alisson’s sprawling frame stopped attempts from inside the Liverpool box from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Samuel Edozie, who were part of Jones’ triple substitution.
In the last 15 seconds, Alisson was compelled to make another miraculous stop. Seven yards from the goal, Ainsley Maitland-Niles came off the bench to find Adams, but Alisson threw out a meaty paw to stop the downward header.
For the second time, Brazil’s top player would not be defeated, sending Southampton into the relegation zone this Christmas as Liverpool rose, albeit briefly, to the lofty realms of sixth.
Liverpool vs Southampton player ratings – Premier League
Liverpool (4-3-1-2)
GK: Alisson – 7/10
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5/10
CB: Joe Gomez – 4/10
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10
LB: Andy Robertson – 8/10
CM: Harvey Elliott – 6/10
CM: Fabinho – 5/10
CM: Thiago Alcantara – 6/10
RW: Mohamed Salah – 5/10
ST: Roberto Firmino – 8/10
LW: Darwin Nunez – 8/10
SUB: James Milner (68′ for Elliott) – 5/10
SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (75′ for Firmino) – N/A
SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (86′ for Robertson) – N/A
SUB: Nathaniel Phillips (87′ for Alexander-Arnold) – N/A
SUB: Fabio Carvalho (87′ for Nunez) – N/A
Manager: Jurgen Klopp – 5/10
Southampton (3-5-2)
GK: Gavin Bazunu – 5/10
CB: Armel Bella-Kotchap – 3/10
CB: Duje Caleta-Car – 4/10
CB: Mohammed Salisu – 5/10
RWB: Mohamed Elyounoussi – 4/10
CM: James Ward-Prowse – 6/10
CM: Romeo Lavia – 6/10
CM: Stuart Armstrong – 4/10
LWB: Romain Perraud – 5/10
ST: Adam Armstrong – 5/10
ST: Che Adams – 6/10
SUB: Theo Walcott (59′ for S Armstrong) – 5/10
SUB: Samuel Edozie (59′ for A Armstrong) – 5/10
SUB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (59′ for Caleta-Car) – 5/10
SUB: Lyanco (73′ for Bella-Kotchap) – N/A
SUB: Joe Aribo (82′ for Lavia) – N/A
Manager: Nathan Jones – 5/10
Player of the Match – Darwin Nunez
