Liverpool 3 Southampton 1: Darwin Nunez sparks Reds comeback after narrowly avoiding red card in first half disaster

LIVERPOOL avoided an embarrassing defeat to Southampton thanks to a second half comeback.

The Reds were clearly tired from their Champions League win against PSG in midweek as they put in a sluggish performance in the first half.

AFP

Darwin Nunez sparked Liverpool’s comeback against Southampton[/caption]

Reuters

He was lucky not to be sent off in the first half[/caption]

PA

Will Smallbone gave Southampton an unlikely lead at Anfield[/caption]

PA

Arne Slot had to watch on from the stands due to his pitchside ban[/caption]

Getty

Mohamed Salah netted a penalty to put Liverpool ahead[/caption]

Rex

He then struck again from the spot to seal the win[/caption]

And it was the relegation-threatened visitors that broke the deadlock just before half time.

Will Smallbone slotted home after a mix-up in the box to give Southampton an unlikely lead.

It almost got worse for the Reds as Darwin Nunez escaped a red card for a kick out at Kyle Walker-Peters.

The Uruguayan would make amends for his outburst as he fired in the equaliser just six minutes after the restart.

Liverpool then completed the turnaround just two minutes later as Mohamed Salah converted from the spot after Smallbone fouled Nunez.

The Egyptian then made it a brace of penalties as he converted his second spotkick in the 87th minute after a handball by Yukinari Sugawara.

More to follow…