One or two Liverpool stars might have had their minds tethered to the Champions League when Anfield got going against Southampton.
Wednesday’s Parc des Princes contest was as gruelling for the players as it was anxiety-inducing for the fans, and it may have taken its toll as the Redmen struggled to get going.
But, like so many times before in 2024/25, Liverpool got the job done, claimed three more points for their haul and extended their lead at the top of the Premier League, to 16 points – albeit having played two games more than Arsenal.
Liverpool’s performance vs Southampton
It was a slow and uninspiring start, with Saints, adrift at the bottom of the table, growing in confidence as the Reds retained plenty of possession but did rather little with it.
Arne Slot watched from up high as he served the second and final match of his touchline ban, but the camera picked out his furrowed face as he watched his team struggle.
Ultimately, Liverpool’s quality prevailed, with Darwin Nunez poking home after good work from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah converting two penalties to move Slot’s side one step closer to the title.
While Nunez and Diaz needed to make an impact after respective recent lulls, Salah just keeps on firing, with his latest brace making it 27 goals and 17 assists from just 29 Premier League fixtures in 2024/25.
He’s a force to be reckoned with and – it goes without saying – undroppable. However, he’s not the only one, with another star really proving his inimitable quality on the pitch.
8/10 Liverpool star is as undroppable as Salah
Salah so often steals the headlines for Liverpool, but this is a team heading toward the Premier League title, into the Carabao Cup final and holding an advantage in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, has long been regarded not just as Liverpool’s most creative player, but one of the most proficient playmakers wearing laces today. But he’s long faced criticism for his defensive ability – unjustly, for the most part.
Against Southampton, both elements of the full-back’s game were neatly showcased, always looking to drive attacking play forward while defending smartly against a Saints side with nothing to lose. Indeed, he racked up 122 touches and completed all four of his attempted dribbles, while winning seven of his nine total duels.
The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle was enamoured with the Three Lions star’s display, handing him an 8/10 rating (the match best) and writing: ‘Denied by Ramsdale first half and probed the Southampton defence throughout with his range of passing. Defensively on point, too, in very fine showing.’
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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Recent Performances |
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|---|---|---|
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Key Stats |
vs PSG |
vs Southampton |
|
Minutes played |
90′ |
89′ |
|
Touches |
45 |
122 |
|
Shots (on target) |
0 (0) |
5 (1) |
|
Accurate passes |
13/22 (59%) |
82/93 (88%) |
|
Key passes |
0 |
2 |
|
Possession lost |
15x |
16x |
|
Dribbles |
1/3 |
4/4 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
6 |
5 |
|
Clearances |
3 |
0 |
|
Duels won |
4/14 |
7/9 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
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While PSG ran rampant against Liverpool, without ever finding the back of the net, Trent stood firm as Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskelia and co targetted him.
Conor Bradley is perhaps a more naturally sound defender, and though there have been calls that he could eventually replace his senior positional peer, Alexander-Arnold has served a reminder in recent weeks that there is no one quite like him.
He’s evolving into quite the complete player. Is it any wonder Real Madrid are so desperate to bring him to the Bernabeu at the end of his contract this summer?
For Liverpool’s part, FSG will fight tooth and nail to tie the vice-captain down for the remainder of his prime. If he keeps playing like this, he’s not only undroppable now but a piece of paramount importance when considering Liverpool’s success over the coming Slot-led years.