EPL: Liverpool Thump Saints

Liverpool turned the screw on Southampton on Saturday afternoon as they thumped the Saints 4-0 to maintain pace with Chelsea at the top of the log.

Goals from Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk coming after a quick fire brace from Diogo Jota condemned Ralph Hassenhuttl's men to defeat.

Having rested Van Dijk, Trent Alexander Arnold, Fabinho and Diogo Jota in midweek in their victory against FC Porto in the Champions League, the quartet returned to the starting lineup, along with Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson who returned from injury.

Hassenhuttl made only three changes to his side from their defeat the last time out to relegation threatened Norwich City, handing a debut to Brazil U-23 international, Lyanco, following his move to the St. Mary's from Torino in the summer.

Both teams created chances in the opening minutes, but it was Liverpool who opened the floodgates 97 seconds into the encounter through Jota._

A Liverpool attack had initially been halted before they recycled the ball and Robertson sent a low cross into the box for Jota to score from close range.

Thiago almost sold his team away minutes later when he lost the ball close to his own goal, allowing James Ward Prowse through on goal, who was denied by Alisson Becker's feet.

At the other end, Mohammed Salah, who has had a hand in at least a goal in every of Liverpool's league games this season saw his trademark curler from the inside right fly just wide of target.

Sadio Mane thought he had gotten a goal against his former club when he turned in a free kick from the left side by Robertson, but the offside flag would deny him that and VAR affirmed the referee's on-field decision.

While Liverpool were blistering in attack, they did not deny Southampton opportunities to attack them in an open approach from them and following a careless play upfront, Southampton countered through Armando Broja, who was only denied by Alisson after the goalkeeper narrowed the angle on the striker.

Read on [here](