Darwin Nunez scored one objective and gained a penalty for an additional after surviving a VAR crimson card evaluate as Liverpool got here from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at Anfield and lengthen their lead on the prime of the desk to 16 factors.
Nunez aimed a kick at Kyle Walker-Peters in first-half harm time however was proven solely a yellow card by referee Lewis Smith, refereeing simply his sixth Premier League recreation, earlier than VAR Derek Eaton dominated there had been no clear and apparent error.
Southampton had been very good throughout the primary 45 minutes and located themselves forward on the time of Nunez’s indiscretion, after Will Smallbone had shocked Anfield moments earlier by slotting in an opener following a mix-up between Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk.
Any grievances Southampton might have had on the interval over Nunez’s continued involvement would have been compounded when he pulled the Reds stage six minutes into the second half, slotting residence after Luis Diaz had remoted Kyle Walker-Peters out vast.
Liverpool had flown out of the blocks from the interval following the half-time introduction of Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott.
However Southampton had been equally masters of their very own downfall, and fewer than two minutes later gave the Reds the prospect to show the sport on its head when Smallbone clumsily introduced down Nunez in his personal field.
Mo Salah wanted no second invitation to internet his twenty sixth objective in 29 Premier League video games this season, earlier than making that 27 with one other from the spot late on following Yukinari Sugawara’s handball.
Paul Merson counts what number of occasions the referee checks VAR earlier than awarding Liverpool a penalty, which Mohamed Salah went on to attain.
That put the shine on a victory which despatched Liverpool 16 factors clear on the prime of the desk – with Southampton left to surprise what may need been had Nunez walked.
Dean: Nunez yellow the precise choice
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday:
“I believe the precise choice is a yellow. You see it from one other angle and it is knee on knee.
“From the traditional TV angle, it seems to be like he is utterly launched him – and he hasn’t.”
Mike Dean discusses why he believes Southampton’s objective in opposition to Liverpool was offside and if Darwin Nunez was fortunate to flee a crimson.
Slot: First-half efficiency was warning signal for PSG second leg
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was disillusioned along with his facet’s efficiency however was happy nonetheless that they picked up the three factors with an unconvincing 3-1 win over lowly Southampton.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot:
“It was a really poor efficiency within the first half. Perhaps should you see the highlights you may suppose we had three or 4 probabilities, however we weren’t within the recreation in any respect and it wasn’t a shock we conceded a objective.
“The primary half was a warning signal, hopefully. We have skilled already, in Paris, that the depth, the best way they play – it was very excessive for us on that evening. If I evaluate it with the depth we performed with right now, it is not one, two, three, 4 or 5 steps, it is most likely six, seven or eight in direction of the depth of PSG.
“We discovered a approach to win it within the second half. I attempted the whole lot earlier than the sport, within the media, in my conferences to clarify how troublesome a recreation it was going to be and the way we needed to play on a unique depth stage than we did in opposition to PSG.
“Perhaps to get used to that stage of depth we’ll expertise once more. However in the long run, I needed to make some exhausting choices at half-time to create a sure anger with the gamers. Those who got here on had been crucial for us.”
