Liverpool got things back on track this evening, with a much-needed downing of Southampton on Merseyside.
Mane & Thiago on target
Jurgen Klopp’s men were of course back in Premier League action a short time ago.
The Reds welcomed Southampton to Anfield, for a crunch outing amid the club’s efforts to secure European football for next season.
Ahead of kick-off, Liverpool sat just outside the top-6, albeit aware that a victory would guide them clear of Tottenham (who fell to defeat at Leeds earlier today), whilst boasting a game in hand.
And, when all was said and done on Merseyside, secure all three points is precisely what the hosts managed.
An at times tense 90 minutes eventually saw two goals separate the sides upon the full-time whistle sounding.
Sadio Mane opened the evening’s scoring, sneaking in at the back post to nod Mohamed Salah’s pinpoint delivery beyond the clutches of the helpless Fraser Forster:
Sadio Mane 👌
Liverpool lead against Southampton
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📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/tuJEFlGqKk— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 8, 2021
And Thiago Alcantara was next up, putting the result beyond any doubt with a fine late strike from the edge of the area, after being teed up by substitute Roberto Firmino:
⚽️ Thiago scores his first goal for 15 months, ending a run of 40 apps for Bayern Munich & Liverpool without scoring (had scored in 3 successive Bundesliga games prior to that run) pic.twitter.com/Tlr1UAlYpB
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 8, 2021
Liverpool, in turn, have climbed into 6th in the Premier League table, just a point adrift of David Moyes’ high-flying West Ham in 5th.
Reds stars finally combine
On the back of the action coming to a close on Saturday, meanwhile, a remarkable statistic has since come to the fore, surrounding Liverpool’s two star attackers.
Mo Salah and Sadio Mane have of course endured altogether hit and miss campaigns to date, with the latter in particular having struggled for form over lengthy stretches.
The pair’s link-up play has also been called into question on a consistent basis, amid the suggestion that Salah too often looks for goal, despite Mane occupying more dangerous positions.
And such woes, in turn, have since been laid bare by a remarkable statistic.
As per the reliable OptaJoe, Salah teeing up Mane’s opener tonight marked the first time that the African pair have combined for a single goal in the Premier League this season:
1 – Mohamed Salah’s assist for Sadio Mané’s header was the first time the duo have combined for a goal in the Premier League this season, last doing so vs Crystal Palace in June 2020. Friends. #LIVSOU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 8, 2021
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