Liverpool fight back to go 16 points clear as title moves closer

Liverpool survived a scare from Southampton as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez inspired the fightback in a 3-1 win that lifted the Premier League leaders 16 points clear at the top on Saturday.

Arne Slot’s side were rocked by Will Smallbone’s first half opener for bottom of the table Southampton at Anfield.

But Liverpool recovered their composure after half-time and the much-maligned Nunez equalised before earning the penalty that Salah converted to put them ahead

Salah netted another penalty to reach 32 goals in all competitions this season as the Reds edged closer to a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020.

Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand on Liverpool, including Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.

But Liverpool’s relentless march to the title looks unstoppable no matter how the Gunners fare in the final weeks of what is shaping up to be a dream first season for Slot after replacing Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds are chasing a treble and will look to finish off Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday after stealing a 1-0 victory from the Champions League last 16 first leg last Wednesday.

Liverpool will then head to Wembley on March 16 as they aim to win the first trophy of the Slot era against Newcastle in the League Cup final.

After that, Liverpool — beaten just once in the league this season — will have nine games left to wrap up the title.

Languishing 13 points from safety, Southampton still need two more points to match Derby’s Premier League record low of 11 in an entire season.

Due to a quirk of the fixture list, this was Liverpool’s only league match in March.

It took Curtis Jones just 48 seconds to have Liverpool’s first shot and the midfielder was inches away moments later with a long-range curler that