Liverpool were permitted to make a total of six subs in their 3-1 win against Southampton - after Jan Bednarek came off for the visitors as a concussion substitute.

The Reds went 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to Darwin Nunez's heroics, while Mohamed Salah netted twice from the penalty area.

Why Liverpool was allowed to make 6 substitutions vs Southampton as lesser-known rule explained	Why Liverpool were able to make six substitutions vs Southampton	Whether Liverpool could be docked points in the Premier League after making six substitutions against Southampton

Towards the end of the game, some supporters might have been scratching their heads after seeing Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Diogo Jota and Jarell Quansah all enter the fray.

Premier League teams are usually allowed to make a total of five substitutions but both teams were granted an extra player to come on after Bednarek was forced off in the first half, with Armel Bella-Kotchap replacing him after just 20 minutes.

The surprising situation even caught goalscorer Mohamed Salah off guard as he noticed Liverpool staff were about to bring on Quansah as their final sub.

The Egyptian desperately tried to stop the coaching team from making the sub in fear that Liverpool could be docked points - before the referee explained to him that they were allowed to bring on an extra man.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot - who was watching the game up in the stands after serving the second of his two-match ban - will have known he could make an extra sub as soon as Bednarek came off.

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Both teams were granted an extra sub after Jan Bednarek was forced off as a concussion substitute.

That might explain why the Dutchman opted to make three changes at the break, especially with his side losing, as Mac Allister, Elliott and Robertson all entered the action at once.

The subs provided a real impact as Mac Allister and Elliott provided more zip for Liverpool in midfield after looking flat in the middle of the park in the first half.

After subbing off Bednarek, Southampton made a further five changes as Bella-Kotchap joined Yukinari Sugawara, Joe Aribo, ex-Liverpool star Adam Lallana, Paul Onuachu and Cameron Archer in being subbed on.

However, the Saints' alterations didn't have a positive impact as Sugawara was guilty of conceding a penalty to allow Salah to convert his second spot kick of the day.