Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary’s Stadium.
The Dutch boss had already broken one record by winning nine of his first ten Premier League games, which had not been done before, but the victory over the Saints notched another record.
Fernandes scored to put the hosts ahead at 2-1 in the second half[/caption]
Slot has now become just the third manager ever to win 10 of the first 12 fixtures in the English top-flight.
It is only Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti who have done the same, both with Chelsea in 2009.
Dominik Szoboszlai earned Liverpool the lead through a poor attempt at playing out from the back by the hosts, with Flynn Downes passing it straight into the Hungarian’s feet for his first goal of the season.
The first half ended with what appeared to be a lucky escape for the Saints, who pulled back an equaliser through Adam Armstrong. His saved penalty rebounded off Caoimhin Kelleher back into his path to nudge home.
It came with plenty of controversy though as Andy Robertson fouled Tyler Dibling at the edge of the box, with many suggesting it should have been overturned. The Premier League since said “there was no conclusive evidence that the contact occurred outside the penalty area.”
Southampton struggled defensively as their attempts to play out from second-choice keeper Alex McCarthy handed Liverpool numerous chances to pounce, despite the scores held at 1-1 into the break.
In the second half, Southampton took the lead through Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who scored his first Premier League goal with a well-worked counter attack led by Armstrong.
Soon enough another costly defensive mistake from Southampton struck again as this time, it allowed Mohamed Salah to punish them, nudging the ball into an empty net.
More penalty drama ensued late in the game as Yukinari Sugawara’s handball awarded Salah a second goal of the game from the spot.
Salah nearly made it a hat-trick shortly after, hitting the post from Luis Diaz’s deflected cross which looped into his path for a volley.
Nonetheless, his brace made it 10 goals in 12 Premier League games for the Egypt international after inspiring Liverpool to a thrilling comeback victory.
Liverpool’s winning start to the campaign has broken more records for Arne Slot[/caption]
Arne Slot’s side now sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool have a tricky fixture list ahead as they host Real Madrid on Wednesday in the Champions League before Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend.
Southampton on the other hand travel to Brighton for their next top-flight clash.
