Salah and Liverpool Make Saints Go Marching Out

The Red Tide rolls on.

This early in the season, it's still unrealistic to expect a side to maintain max form all the way through May.

But it's been done in the Premiership before -- think Arsenal, Invincibles -- and if it's gonna happen this season, Liverpool's well set to make that run.

The Reds totally lorded it over Southampton on the way to a 3-0 triumph that was never in doubt.

 

The ultimate effect first appeared in the 10th minute when Xherdan Shaqiri received the ball on the left-wing, zipped into the box, and tried to curve one home.

That didn't make it through directly, but a double carom -- with the fateful deflection off Wesley Hoedt -- sent the shot over the line, anyway, despite Alex McCarthy’s desperate attempt to save it:

 

Southampton tried to strike back a few minutes later through Shane Long, who saw himself up close and personal with Alisson Becker, but he was brilliantly intercepted by Virgil van Dijk:

 

After that interruption, it was back to biz for the 'Pool.

In the 21st minute, they found twine through Joel Matip’s header after a mighty fine corner from the right:

 

Jürgen Klopp’s crew were relentless, as it seems they always are this season.

Shaqiri got involved in another goal as he brilliantly bent a free kick straight to the crossbar in the 48th minute. The ball ricocheted off on McCarthy’s back and almost crossed the line when Mohamed Salah raced in to make sure it did:

 

The Saints seemed resigned to their fate, so their task in the second half seemed to focus on limiting the damage. After all, at their end of the table, goal difference may matter come May.

The Reds worked on staying healthy, especially after Virgil van Dijk had to be subbed off due to a rib injury. (For those of you reading aloud, the ij half-diphthong is how the Dutch get a long-i sound outta their language.)

Following the easy win, Liverpool top the Premiership table with 18 points. Southampton sits 14th, with 5.

Minding goal difference against the big brands could well be a logical priority for them.