Southampton 3-2 Liverpool: Sadio Mane inspires stunning fightback as Reds' top four hopes dealt a huge blow
- Southampton came back from 2-0 to win 3-2 in a pulsating Premier League clash at St Mary's
- They could have had an early penalty after Dejan Lovren brought down Shane Long in the box
- Philippe Coutinho was allowed to run forward with the ball before curling a wonderful effort past Fraser Forster
- Daniel Sturridge added a second just minutes later with a smart finish after Divock Origi opened up the defence
- Sadio Mane's penalty was saved by Simon Mignolet after Graziano Pelle was brought down by Martin Skrtel
- The forward made up for it soon after though, driving forward before slotting past Mignolet
- Late goals from Graziano Pelle and the brilliant Sadio Mane sealed an incredible comeback for the Saints
Jurgen Klopp puffed out his cheeks and shook his head in bewilderment, as he looked at the scene unfolding in front of him.
To his left Ronald Koeman and his brother Erwin were engulfing Sammy Lee in a bear hug. Further down the pitch, Southampton’s players were being stopped by stewards from jumping into the crowd, while to his right Liverpool’s fans were standing in stunned silence.
Liverpool, who had arrived on the south coast with ambitions of qualifying for Europe, had capitulated and in the space of 20 chaotic minutes the dream of reaching the top four had gone up in smoke as they buckled under a barrage of pressure.
Sadio Mane came on to score two as Southampton came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in a pulsating Premier League clash on Sunday
Mane collected the ball after Cuco Martina had won the it off Joe Allen and slotted beyond Mignolet to win the game in the 86th minute
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool looks dejected (centre) as Ronald Koeman of Southampton (2nd right) celebrates Mane's winner
A double from Saido Mane and another from Graziano Pelle meant a game that had firmly been in Liverpool’s control following first half strikes from Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge had gone deservedly to Southampton.
This was the first time Liverpool had blown a two-goal lead in the league since 1964 and they had nobody to blame other than themselves. If they had attacked with purpose before the break, they defended like amateurs afterwards. Southampton took full advantage.
Traffic congestion had delayed Liverpool’s arrival at St Mary’s but that proved no disruption to their preparations as they started with pace of an express train, ripping holes in Southampton’s defence every time they hurtled forward.
Southampton, it must be noted, should have been awarded a penalty in the seventh minute when Dejan Lovren – the afternoon’s pantomime baddie, booed at every opportunity by home fans who remember how left for Anfield – tripped Shane Long but referee Roger East waved all appeals away.
From that point, though, the direction of play went only one way. Liverpool, inspired by the artistry of Coutinho, began passing with purpose and soon the little No 10 produced the latest evidence to show why his team-mates call him ‘The Magician’.
Adam Lallana won possession in the 18th minute and urged him forward; Coutinho took control, skipping inside Dusan Tadic, and seized up his options before unleashing a 25-yard drive that bent away from Fraser Forster. It was a wonderful strike, one which left Klopp punching the air.
It looked as though Dejan Lovren pushed Shane Long over in the Liverpool penalty area but Roger East decided against the penalty
Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool (centre) scores their first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool
Coutinho celebrates after his goal gave the visitors the lead against the run of play at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Soon the lead was doubled and, once again, Coutinho had an input; his passes with the outside of his left foot sent Divock Origi scampering forward and with Southampton’s defence back-pedalling, he showed awareness to tee up Sturridge, whose finish was whipped emphatically past Forster
As Liverpool’s players celebrated, the TV cameras quickly cut to England head coach Roy Hodgson, who was sat in the Directors Box with his assistant Ray Lewington. Hodgson was smiling and with good reason: this was Sturridge’s most assured performance since he returned from injury.
Two should really have become three in the 25th minute when a move involving Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Emre Can ended at the feet of Joe Allen but the Welshman lacked belief and shot straight at Forster, who had raced out to close him down.
Grimacing and clamping his hands to head, Allen knew he should have ended the game as a contest and his mood did not improve in the 33rd minute, either, when his ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside against Mamadou Sakho. It proved to be a decisive moment, as a door was reopened to the hosts.
Half-time checked Liverpool’s momentum and Southampton emerged with renewed purpose and, five minutes after the re-start, the squandered a glorious chance to reduce the deficit when Martin Skrtel, who had replaced Lovren, was adjudged to have dragged Graziano Pelle down.
Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool scores the second with a smart left footed finish after some good work from Divock Origi opened the defence
The English striker recently returned from injury and couldn't resist the chance to show off his trademark celebration after the goal
East, ignoring Liverpool’s appeals, pointed to the spot but Mane’s penalty was superbly saved by Simon Mignolet. As Ronald Koeman spun on his heels, shaking his head in bewilderment, Klopp – a figure of perpetual animation – pumped his fists towards the away end.
That should have demoralised Southampton once and for all but, with Liverpool retreating and stopping doing all the good things they had shown in the opening 45 minutes, slowly they got a foothold back in the game and it seemed inevitable a chance would come.
So it proved in the 64th minute when Jon Flanagan was caught in possession by Pelle and the Italian rolled a pass into his striker partner’s path and Mane did the rest, thumping a left-footed drive past Mignolet. In that moment, the pendulum swung inexorably.
Though Liverpool had one break in the 73rd minute that finished with Christian Benteke dragging a shot wide after Lallana had set him free, they were effectively dead as an attacking force and it became a question of whether they could hang on.
The answer, emphatically, was no. Parity arrived in the 84th minute when James Ward-Prowse cushioned a ball to long, who teed up Pelle to smash a drive beyond Mignolet and then, in the next attack, Mane finished the job, capitalising on another defensive mix up to spark pandemonium.
Joe Allen thought he'd made it 0-3 in Liverpool's favour as his shot made it through a crowd of players into the Southampton net
Liverpool's Belgian striker Divock Origi (2nd right) reacts as referee Roger East signals after a goal by Joe Allen was ruled offside
Graziano Pelle of Southampton is challenged by Martin Skrtel of Liverpool resulting in Roger East awarding the home side a penalty kick
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet got down well to his right to push away Sadio Mane's disappointingly weak penalty kick
Mignolet and Skrtel celebrate the missed penalty, feeling the decision by Roger East to award it in the first place was somewhat dubious
enegalese midfielder Sadio Mane (2nd left) scores his team's first goal past Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
Mane celebrates after making up for his sot kick - Ronald Koeman chose to bring him on at half-time and what a difference he made
Graziano Pelle got the ball on his left foot before powerfully shooting past Mignolet with what was a brilliant finish
Southampton's Graziano Pelle celebrates scoring their second goal to equalise during the Premier League clash at St Mary's
Southampton's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring his second, and side's winning third goal, against Liverpool in the Premier League
Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool shakes hands with Divock Origi as his players stand dejected at the end of the Barclays Premier League match
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