Thiago scores first Liverpool goal in vital win over Saints

Thiago scored his first goal for Liverpool as they kept their top-four hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.

Both sides had clear chances in an open first half, but Liverpool got the opener as Sadio Mane rose above Kyle Walker-Peters to convert Mohamed Salah’s cross from six yards (31), the first time the duo had combined for a Premier League goal this season.

Alisson was on hand to deny Saints on several occasions in both halves, while also nearly handing them a leveller on a plate with a poor pass out in the second, gratefully gathering Che Adams’ weak shot, before summer signing Thiago struck with a fine low effort from outside the box into the bottom right corner (90).

The weekend had offered mixed results in Liverpool’s quest for the top four, with Leicester and Spurs beaten, but Chelsea winning late at Manchester City just before this vital win. It leaves Liverpool six points off fourth-place Leicester, with a game in hand and four to play, with Chelsea a point further ahead in third.

Southampton are 16th and not yet mathematically safe having won just twice in 17 games, but sit 10 points off the drop zone with 12 points to play for.

How Liverpool fought past Saints for significant win

Both sides were eager to attack in the first half; Salah was denied by Fraser Forster at an angle, with Mane in a better position, before the Southampton goalkeeper was then forced into stops from Diogo Jota’s fierce effort and Salah’s curling shot inside the box.

Forster was beaten by Gini Wijnaldum’s header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner, the crossbar coming to his rescue, and at the other end goalkeeper Alisson stood tall to deny Adams a sure goal as Saints broke at speed, feasting on Liverpool’s high defensive line.

But 45 seconds later, Liverpool were ahead. Found by Fabinho on the right, Salah weighted a lovely ball into Mane at the back post, outmuscling his marker Walker-Peters and heading past Forster, who chose not to come out and claim the ball.

Salah nearly had a second moments later, blocked out after trying to round Forster, and Saints should have levelled just before the break as Nathan Tella’s header from Nathan Redmond’s cross fell into the grateful hands of Alisson.

Jota stung the hands of Forster early in the second half from a tight angle, while Nat Phillips then had a much clearer sight at goal, miscuing his ummarked header from Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant cross.

Michael Obafemi, just moments after coming on, nearly grabbed a leveller as he was played through by Tella, catching Rhys Williams flat-footed, but Alisson rushed out to block again.

Diallo, another substitute, forced Alisson to tip over from a half volley as Liverpool survived some pressure, with the hosts caught in-between pushing for a second and defending against a pushy Saints side.

Alisson, who had been the scourge of Saints, then nearly gifted them a goal as his loose pass out fell to the feet of Adams, only for his weak effort to fall straight back into the Brazil goalkeeper’s arms.

But Thiago, criticised for mixed form since joining from Bayern Munich last summer, showed his class with a low finish from 20 yards in the final minute, wrapping up a significant victory.

While not being a mathematical must-win, Liverpool would have felt the pressure at kick-off to keep themselves in the race for the Champions League spots, a bare minimum expectation at the start of what has been a testing campaign for the champions.

Opta stats

• Liverpool kept their first home clean sheet in nine Premier League games, since drawing 0-0 with Manchester United in January.
• Southampton have earned just 11 points from their 18 Premier League games in 2021, fewer than any other side this calendar year (W3 D2 L13).
• Southampton have now failed to score in five consecutive Premier League away games against Liverpool, with today’s match winner Sadio Mane the last player to score at Anfield for Saints in the competition (October 2015).
• Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold created five chances in this match, his most in a single Premier League game since February 2020 (6 vs West Ham).

What’s next?

Liverpool now go to Manchester United on Thursday night in their rearranged fixture at 8.15pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League, before going to West Brom on Super Sunday at 4.30pm, also on Sky Sports Premier League.

Southampton now host Crystal Palace on Tuesday night at 8.15pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League, before hosting Fulham at 3pm on Saturday, also live on Sky Sports Premier League.

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