Match ends, Southampton 1, Liverpool 2.
SouthamptonSouthampton1LiverpoolLiverpool2
Liverpool have taken the Premier League title race down to the final day of the season by coming from behind to win at Southampton.
Jurgen Klopp's side knew defeat would hand the title to Manchester City - while even a draw would effectively end the challenge because of their inferior goal difference.
And it looked as if Liverpool might have a struggle on their hands when Nathan Redmond gave Southampton a 13th-minute lead with a curling right-foot shot beyond Alisson.
Liverpool, with nine changes from the side that won the FA Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties at Wembley on Saturday, once again showed their resilience and reserves of strength as Takumi Minamino levelled before half-time with a thumping drive against the club where he spent a spell on loan last season.
The pressure built after the break and Liverpool took a deserved lead after 67 minutes when Joel Matip sent an instinctive looping header over Saints' keeper Alex McCarthy.
City will still retain their title with victory over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium but Liverpool have pushed them all the way again and ensured the fight will go down to the wire.
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Liverpool dig deep again
Liverpool were under pressure going into this game - and not just because they could not afford a slip.
Manager Klopp had to make a host of changes because of tired legs following that gruelling FA Cup final win and also had to contend with injuries to major figures Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
This was a test of the nerve as well as the depth of Liverpool's squad and, as at Aston Villa last week when they also fell behind, an examination of their ability to survive adversity and demonstrate powers of recovery.
All the tests were passed in convincing style as Liverpool dominated once they had recovered from shock of Redmond's outstanding goal.
In the absence of Salah and Sadio Mane, and with Luis Diaz on the bench, Roberto Firmino gave an outstanding display of touch and intelligent running, putting in a tireless shift that earned him a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.
Ibrahima Konate has proved to be an outstanding signing and he was once again a tower of strength in defence, ensuring Liverpool did not miss Van Dijk - his defensive partner Matip scoring the winner with what looked almost like a reflex action header, albeit a highly effective one.
The only blot on Liverpool's night was an injury to the luckless Joe Gomez, who fell awkwardly under a touchline challenge and limped off disconsolately at half-time with the consoling arm of goalkeeper Alisson around his shoulder.
Klopp delivered his tradition triple fist pump in front of Liverpool's travelling fans at the final whistle.
He will know City are still in pole position and have the title's destiny in their own hands but all Liverpool could do was put them through a final-day test and this was mission accomplished.
Southampton run out of steam
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was hoping for a vibrant display from his side after feeling the full force of fan discontent following their 3-0 defeat at Brentford last time out.
The Austrian faced chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' and 'sacked in the morning' during the dismal defeat in west London on 7 May.
This was a tame response, ending as he led his team around a largely deserted stadium on a lap of appreciation after the final whistle.
Saints had the boost of that early lead but never carried the air of a team confident it would be maintained. Liverpool confirmed their obvious superiority while the home side looked nervous, especially when playing out from the back, where they played themselves into trouble on several occasions.
Southampton lie in 15th place, nearing the end of the season in which moments of promise were eventually overshadowed by disappointment. This is exactly where they finished last season and they have to win at Leicester City on Sunday to equal last term's points tally.
Now Hasenhuttl will hope to keep hold of star man James Ward-Prowse this summer and get some much-needed financial backing from the club's new owners, the company backed by Serb media mogul Dragan Solak.
Player of the match
Roberto FirminoRoberto Firmino
with an average of 7.85
Southampton
Avg
Squad number11Player nameRedmondAverage rating6.06
Squad number2Player nameWalker-PetersAverage rating5.48
- Squad number4Player nameLyancoAverage rating
5.24
Squad number5Player nameStephensAverage rating5.14
- Squad number24Player nameElyounoussiAverage rating
5.12
- Squad number22Player nameSalisuAverage rating
5.12
- Squad number18Player nameBrojaAverage rating
5.10
Squad number1Player nameMcCarthyAverage rating5.08
- Squad number23Player nameTellaAverage rating
5.03
- Squad number17Player nameS ArmstrongAverage rating
4.78
- Squad number27Player nameDialloAverage rating
4.74
- Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating
4.65
Squad number6Player nameOriol RomeuAverage rating4.57
Squad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating3.97
Liverpool
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating
7.85
Squad number32Player nameMatipAverage rating7.66
- Squad number18Player nameMinaminoAverage rating
7.66
- Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
7.63
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
7.40
Squad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating7.39
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating7.29
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
7.22
- Squad number67Player nameElliottAverage rating
7.02
- Squad number27Player nameOrigiAverage rating
7.00
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
6.83
Squad number12Player nameGomezAverage rating6.72
- Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating
6.58
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 5-4-1
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-Peters
- 4Lyanco
- 5StephensBooked at 74mins
- 22Salisu
- 11Redmond
- 24Elyounoussi
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 27DialloSubstituted forRomeuat 71'minutes
- 23TellaBooked at 69minsSubstituted forS Armstrongat 71'minutes
- 18BrojaSubstituted forAdamsat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Romeu
- 7Long
- 9A Armstrong
- 10Adams
- 13Caballero
- 17S Armstrong
- 19Djenepo
- 35Bednarek
- 43Valery
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 12GomezSubstituted forHendersonat 45'minutes
- 32Matip
- 5Konaté
- 21Tsimikas
- 67ElliottSubstituted forOrigiat 65'minutes
- 7Milner
- 17Jones
- 18Minamino
- 9FirminoSubstituted forKeïtaat 83'minutes
- 20Jota
Substitutes
- 6Thiago Alcántara
- 8Keïta
- 14Henderson
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 23Díaz
- 26Robertson
- 27Origi
- 46R Williams
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 31,588
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamLiverpool
- Possession
- Home29%
- Away71%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away24
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home1
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Liverpool 2.
Post update
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton).
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James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
Post update
Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohammed Salisu.
Post update
Foul by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Post update
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Konstantinos Tsimikas with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by James Ward-Prowse.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Curtis Jones (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Takumi Minamino.
Post update
Foul by Divock Origi (Liverpool).
Post update
Lyanco (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keïta replaces Roberto Firmino.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Che Adams replaces Armando Broja.
Post update
Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
Post update
Armando Broja (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Curtis Jones.
Booking
Jack Stephens (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Looking at the stats.
Man City won 28 , Liverpool Won 27
Man City lost 3, Liverpool lost 2.
Man City scored 96 conceded 24
Liverpool scored 91 conceded 25
Facts are.
Two brilliant teams, what a privilege to have had this Season.
Banter aside (temporarily)
Genuine congratulations to both teams, whoever wins the title.
What a season 👏
Its really incredible to see the squad that Klopp has managed to assemble and without the financial "benefits" that a certain other side enjoy.
Any REAL football supporter - irrespective of the club they support - will have fingers crossed for the correct set of results on Sunday.
Good luck LFC!
Oh, & the very best of luck to Rangers for Wednesday night, would love it to a ‘Battle of Britain’ Super cup, if things go as hoped.
Good game for the neutral, possibly nail biting for reds' fans.
Whoever wins the league, thanks for great entertainment from both Liverpool and Man City.
Whatever happens, I'm proud to be a Liverpool fan and feel blessed with the fight we've put up this season. Whether we win the treble or more it's been brilliant!
Nice goal by Minamino btw, justified his selection.