EPL 2018: Liverpool Maintain Perfect Start With Thumping Win Over Southampton 1
Credits: Reuters

Red-hot Liverpool continued their winning run this season as they dismantled Southampton by 3-0 to register their sixth win of the season. Liverpool returned to the top of the standings with their latest win.

An own goal from Wesley Hoedt (10) set the tone for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Joel Matip’s header (21) and Mohamed Salah’s close-range strike (45+3) the sealed the game by half-time.

Xherdan Shaqiri, who was making his full debut for the Reds, was heavily involved in the game. The Swiss international set Liverpool on their way as early as the third minute. The former Stoke City star fired in a pin-point cross for Roberto Firmino only to see the Brazilian heading it over.

Salah and Sadio Mane then combined but the latter headed narrowly over. Liverpool’s persistence finally paid in the 10th minute when Wesley Hoedt turned the ball into his own net.

The defender was left cursing his luck after Shaqiri’s shot took a deflection off Shane Long, stuck Hoedt and rolled over the line.

EPL 2018: Liverpool Maintain Perfect Start With Thumping Win Over Southampton 2
Liverpool 3- 0 Southampton (Credits: Reuters)

Ten minutes later, Salah got a brilliant opportunity to double the visitors lead. He was played through after a clever one-two with Firmino but was denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle by Cedric Soares. But the Saints’ soon paid for a poor piece of defending when an unmarked Matip headed home from a corner to double Liverpool’s lead.

EPL 2018: Liverpool Maintain Perfect Start With Thumping Win Over Southampton 3
Liverpool 3- 0 Southampton (Credits: Reuters)

On the other end, Southampton felt they were hard done by after not getting a penalty when Firmino clipped Nathan Redmond in the box.

Liverpool, however, continued to attack as Southampton got another reprieve. Salah had the chance to score again after bursting free from Firmino’s through-ball but his cheeky back-heel missed the goal by a whisker.

Salah finally scored a goal when he fired home from close range on the stroke of half-time. The Egyptian scored the goal from a rebound after Shaqiri’s 25-yard free-kick struck the crossbar.

EPL 2018: Liverpool Maintain Perfect Start With Thumping Win Over Southampton 4
Liverpool 3- 0 Southampton (Credits: Reuters)

The second half was not as happening as the first as Southampton failed to pose any threat to the high-flying Reds.

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