Southampton v Liverpool - 5 Key Talking Points

Southampton hosted Liverpool on Sunday in their 27th match of the current Premier League season hoping to build on their win against West Bromwich Albion in the last week. While the Saints looked fluid from the start, a defensive error from Wesley Hoedt gifted Mohamed Salah the opportunity to tee up Firmino and the Brazilian did not disappoint.

Loris Karius was called into action by Southampton and questions were asked but they remained mere questions as the Saints failed to get past the German and were duly punished by Salah who latched onto a beautiful back heel from Firmino to score his side's 2nd and final goal of the game.

Here are the 5 Key Talking points from the game.

---

#1 Salah-Firmino partnership gets the business done for the Reds.

A lot of Liverpool fans were pessimistic of the business done by the club in the summer transfer window citing the club's inability to bring in a proven striker. However, over the course of the season, the Liverpool attackers have shown that the club was right to place their trust in the available resources and that was the case yet again as the Salah-Firmino partnership yet again played a vital role in ensuring a critical win for the Merseysiders.

Both players scored one apiece and set up one apiece to ensure that the hosts on the evening did not get the desired result but one of them in particular, produced a moment of magic to ensure that his credentials as a leading attacker in Europe continue to grow, Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian had scored early in the first half after Salah had teed him up and duly returned favour late in the same half via a ludicrous backheel to set up the Egyptian. We are only getting into the business end of the season and Firmino has already scored 20 goals and assisted another 9 across all competitions making us wonder what the fuss at the start was all about.

#2 Southampton's lack of a goal scorer hurt their chances.

The injury to Charlie Austin has put Southampton in a tight spot.

While Liverpool have been putting up scintillating displays in front of the goal, Southampton have been a rather timid side to handle, even at home. The Saints played some good football but were undone yet again by the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer, a deficiency that could see them drop into the lower leagues if not attended to in time.

Their leading goal scorer in the Premier League this season, Charlie Austin is currently out injured and with both Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini missing their goalscoring boots, Pellegrino was forced into handing the club's record signing Guido Carillo a start. To be fair to the Argentine, he was only little better than a fish out of water as he failed to intimidate a Liverpool defence that gives up no opportunity to do so.

Southampton, however, do have some genuinely good attacking talent on their hands in the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Ryan Bertrand and Dusan Tadic. Yet, without a genuine outlet to feed into, their abilities are only being rendered useless as was the case on Sunday once again.

The lack of goals could prove to be immensely detrimental to their season going ahead and with games coming thick and fast, the Saints have a real problem on their hands.

#3 Karius loves playing at St. Mary's.

Karius made 2 very good saves to keep his side in the game in the first half.

If there is one Liverpool player who often has critics vying for his blood, it has to be their goalkeeper, regardless of who is in the goal. When Jurgen Klopp announced his intentions to hand fellow German, Loris Karius, the starting role ahead of Simon Mignolet midway through the season, the internet broke into laughter.

The former Mainz keeper had not done himself any favours either with a string of poor performances and the loss of concentration during vital games and every Liverpool fan was troubled by the prospect of him in between the sticks. However, amidst all of the poor performances, Karius had actually put on a strong display at St. Mary's in the FA Cup last season and yet again turned up at the ground to ensure that his new teammate Virgil Van Dijk, who was himself a calm and composed presence at the back, earned his first clean sheet in a red shirt.

The German made two very good saves from Dusan Tadic and Ward Prowse to keep Liverpool in the game during the first half and was, in general, a very commanding presence, unlike the Karius we have so often witnessed in the past. Klopp has placed his trust in him and Karius will be hoping to repay his manager's trust with a string of good performances on the back of this showing.

#4 Pellegrino's dance on thin ice continues

Just 5 wins in the season thus far do really make for bad reading Mauricio.

Southampton began the game in the relegation zone as wins for both Huddersfield and Newcastle United saw them move out of the drop zone and they were unable to pick themselves up from 19th spot with a rather timid performance.

The loss means that the Saints have not won a League game at home since November 27th, a time period that spans 7 home games and that is surely a worrying factor for their manager Mauricio Pellegrino. The Argentine only took charge of the affairs at the club in the summer of 2017 but has endured some very hard times as his side has been plagued by the continued loss of key players as well as a string of poor performances.

The Saints have won just 5 games under him in the League thus far which is only better than West Bromwich Albion (The Baggies have won just 3 thus far) and with teams getting into the business end, the manager has a problem on his hands, especially if they continue with their dismal home record.

In a footballing world where managers are constantly looking to pull tricks up their sleeves, Pellegrino seems like an amateur and while that might stem from him not having the requisitely talented personnel to pull off the trick, he has to prove his credentials with the resources available at hand or soon he could become a part of the Premier League wastebin.

#5 Liverpool are prime contenders to pip Manchester United to 2nd

The incredible Liverpool attack is ready to shine in the later stages of the season.

Let's be honest here, no one is going to catch up to Manchester City. The Pep Guardiola led side have been on a different level altogether and currently sit 16 points clear at the top of the table. While the Champions are virtually almost decided, the race for the Champions League spots is heating up well with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal still in the fray for the remaining 3 spots.

Despite all the pessimism that flows on to the internet when Liverpool drop points, Jurgen Klopp's men are in the best position amidst their competitors especially after they forged out another good win at Southampton. The side's strike force is real nuisance to handle for any opposition and their defensive performances have improved over the course of the last few weeks, setting up the Reds for a strong finish to what has been a good season thus far.

Yes, the Reds have their deficiencies but even with a fragile defence as well as a mediocre midfield, the Reds have found the balance in the side and will be hoping to continue with the good work in the weeks to come.