After beating Southampton 3-0, will Liverpool fans dare to dream of a title? After all, the win lifts them into second place, even on points with Arsenal and just four points behind table-toppers Chelsea. Reality might sink in upon realizing that Manchester City, two points back, have two games in hand, but for now, it must be nice to be a Red.
It came as quite a surprise – and certainly a disappointment for the majority of fans assembled at St. Mary’s – when the first half finished 1-0, the only goal coming from Luis Suárez. It was Southampton that looked the better side for the majority of the first 45, yet somehow, it was Liverpool that went into the break holding the lead.
The goal seemed to come out of nowhere. Suárez and Danny Sturridge exchanged passes after a throw-in, but nothing that seemed too threatening. Then José Fonte’s attempt to clear the ball resulted in his delivering it straight to Suárez, who of course took advantage. The Uruguayan made no mistake, placing his shot neatly into the corner of the net, past a diving Artur Boruc.
Southampton pushed their way back into the match, with Rickie Lambert placing a difficult shot over the top of the bar in the 25th minute. Five minutes later, Lambert chested down for Adam Lallana, whose low shot collided with the post.
Then it was Lambert and Lallana combining once more, with some help from Luke Shaw, to set up Jay Rodriguez, who put his shot just high. Rodriguez very nearly had an equalizer just before the break, getting on the end of Shaw’s cross to force a one-handed save from Simon Mignolet.
But Brendan Rodgers knew that the one goal lead wouldn’t be enough and so, in the 57th minute, replaced Philippe Coutinho with Raheem Sterling. It took just 80 seconds for the substitute to make an impact. Steven Gerrard sent the ball up from the back, perfectly placed for Suárez to run onto. Dejan Lovren went the wrong way, allowing the Uruguayan to pull back and provide Sterling the opportunity to score Liverpool’s second.
As if that wasn’t enough for poor Southampton – who’d certainly put on a good show in the first half, at least – Gerrard had to add to the humiliation by putting in a penalty with the final play of the game. Fonte, who really was not having a very good game, foolishly brought down Suárez inside the area. The Liverpool captain coolly converted with a shot into the top corner.
Southampton: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Cork (Wanyama 77), Schneiderlin, Davis (Ramírez 46), Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert (Gallagher 76)
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho (Sterling 57), Sturridge (Aspas 85), Suárez
Goals: Suárez 16′, Sterling 58, Gerrard 90+5′
