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Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring Liverpool's equalizer against Southampton.(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Liverpool moved a whopping 16 points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League title race courtesy of a 3-1 win against rock-bottom Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

After Will Smallbone had shocked the leaders at the end of the first half, Darwin Nunez equalised shortly after the restart before two Mohamed Salah penalties secured the result for Arne Slot's men.

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The ECHO, as ever, was on hand to provide our usual match-day mix of player ratings, verdict, analysis and live blog alongside the reaction from Slot himself in his post-match press conference.



READ MORE:What Liverpool supporters saw at Anfield was tantalising - and may not be needed for longREAD MORE:Trent Alexander-Arnold offers quiet reminder as Mohamed Salah sends new Liverpool contract message

Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to give their own considered takes.

Here's what they made of it as the Reds moved to within six wins of a 20th league title.

Paul Joyce, of The Times, writes: "When the time comes to review Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool career, the eight minutes which stretched from the end of the opening half and into the second period would serve as the perfect sample size.

"Here was the full Nunez experience in all its head-shaking-whats-he-doing-now glory.

"One moment he had stood sheepishly awaiting the verdict of a red card check after cynically kicking out at Kyle Walker-Peters, the Southampton supporters berating him with the usual chant of being a 's*** Andy Carroll' as he did so.

"Soon after, the decision having been taken not to upgrade a yellow card, Nunez had conjured an equaliser, gestured to shush his detractors and won a penalty as Liverpool recovered to post another important victory.

"At the point he departed to a standing ovation in the 68th minute, the prospect of him starting the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday had been strengthened.

It may render this a footnote.

"Yet at half-time, it had the makings of potentially the biggest shock in Premier League history, the side who may end up with the tag of its worst-ever team winning away at the putative champions.

Darwin Nunez continued his redemption arc to score and then win a penalty which Mohamed Salah converted.

"The Egyptian put the icing on the cake in the 88th minute with another spot-kick to make it 32 goals for him in a breathtaking campaign that is firing Liverpool to supremacy and who knows how many individual accolades to go with it."

Chris Bascombe, of The Telegraph, was another who detailed the performance of Nunez.

He writes: "Liverpool’s latest victory en route to the promised land of being Premier League champions owed everything to peak Darwin Nunez.

"There have been far better Liverpool footballers than Nunez.

'Nunez, Nunez, Nunez,' sang the Kop."

And last but not the least, the ECHO's verdict reads: "The replica trophies on display outside Anfield for supporters to enjoy photo opportunities with before kick-off here against Southampton were somewhat symbolic for Arne Slot and his Liverpool players.

"For those who lined up to get their hands on copies of both the Premier League and Champions League, they were tangible reminders of a glittering period under Jurgen Klopp when, between 20219 and 2020, they could justifiably lay claim to being the world's best football team.

"But, for others, the shimmering silverware near the statue of the iconic Bill Shankly also offered a gentle reminder of what might still be possible at Liverpool this season.

"A 16-point lead now over an Arsenal side who travel to Manchester United on Sunday means the Reds have to collect 18 from their final nine fixtures to guarantee that the real thing nestles inside their trophy cabinet in May, and that's assuming the Gunners are flawless themselves from here on in.

"The big games keep coming for the Reds as they now turn their attention to the last-16 second leg with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday before Sunday’s showpiece with Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

"But if this is indeed what a 'final' is like for Arne Slot's Liverpool, as he stressed it was on Friday, then supporters should be expected to go through the full range of emotions at Wembley next week.

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"A difficult and often tense first period, which saw the concession of an almost comical first goal in four games, gave way to a sharp three-minute burst that turned it all around in the second half, before a belated measure of control was exerted by the runaway leaders."


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