Liverpool put themselves 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a come from behind win over Southampton on Saturday.

The Reds had been expected to comfortably beat the club bottom of the table, but came out of the blocks incredibly slowly.

Having looked tired and leggy against PSG in midweek, it was a similar performance from Liverpool at Anfield from the first whistle.

Southampton stuck to their game plan and deservedly got themselves in front through Will Smallbone who capitalised on a mistake from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

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A half-time talking to from Arne Slot was needed, and the Liverpool head coach made a triple substitution which quickly paid dividends.

Within 10 minutes the Reds were ahead.

The equalising goal came from Darwin Nunez, who was arguably lucky to still be on the pitch following a late tackle at the end of the first-half.

And after being put through the ringer by the travelling Saints fans during the first 45 minutes, Nunez got his own back with the goal.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Nunez badly needed his goal on Saturday.

After almost getting himself sent off at the end of a difficult first-half, Slot would have been well within his rights to take the Uruguayan off.

With Nunez putting in a poor display, the Southampton fans were certainly enjoying it.

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Chants of ‘Just a —- Andy Carroll’ have become commonplace from opposition supporters whenever Nunez has a poor moment during Liverpool games and that’s exactly what was heard at Anfield.

Although he initially did not understand the chants, there’s little doubt that Nunez acknowledges them by now.

READ MORE: What Arne Slot may have done to help Darwin Nunez ‘redeem himself’ at half-time for Liverpool vs Southampton

And after sticking the ball in the net from Luis Diaz’s pull back – and celebrating in front of the Kop – Darwin quietened the boo boys.

Racing back towards the Anfield Road end where the Southampton fans were housed, Nunez could be seen determinedly lifting a fore finger to his lips and muttering something in their general direction.

Nunez was far from the only Liverpool player who was simply not at the races during the first-half.

But after Slot’s triple change at the break, the Reds were so much better.

Nunez’s goal was added to by a Mohamed Salah penalty double and according to BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton, it was no less than Liverpool ultimately deserved.

“Liverpool in this second half have been outstanding,” raved Sutton.