Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Friday. After Shane Long had fired the Saints into a lead, Naby Keita then levelled with his first goal for the club. Mohamed Salah then netted his 50th Premier League goal for the Redsto make it 2-1 before Jordan Henderson made certain of the victory. Here is what the media made of the match... James Pearce, Liverpool Echo Cometh the hour, cometh the man. With the clock ticking and Liverpool in desperate need of inspiration on the south coast, their Egyptian King stepped up and delivered. The longest drought of Salah's Reds career was ended in sensational fashion as he ran half the length of St Mary's to write another unforgettable chapter in this thrilling title challenge. What a way for Salah to enter the record books as the fastest player in the club's history to reach a half century of league goals for the Reds. His stunning individual effort – his first goal in nine appearances - triggered wild celebrations in front of the jubilant travelling Kop. “Liverpool, top of the league,” they roared as Manchester City were knocked off the summit. Once again Jürgen Klopp's side found a way to win when operating nowhere near their best. Once again there was late drama as they showcased their powers of recovery to turn a potentially devastating stalemate into a priceless victory. The bottle of this team Klopp has assembled is staggering. As the stakes keep getting higher, the size of the cojones on display are immense. There's a powerful sense of unity, spirit and belief – coupled with an abundance of quality - which is powering them towards the finish line. Whether it's enough to secure the Holy Grail only time will tell. Relying on City to slip up, Liverpool aren't masters of their own destiny. It's a mark of just how far Liverpool have come under Klopp that Champions League qualification for a third successive season will barely get a mention. All eyes are on the big prize and their 82-point haul with five matches to go is remarkable. Only twice in the Premier League era have they ever surpassed that tally. This is a truly special team. Neil Jones, Goal.com Pity those who don’t love football. You can keep your Netflix thrillers. Forget your skydiving and your rock-climbing. Don’t bother with bungee jumping or white-water rafting. No, for sheer, unfiltered drama. For seat-of-your-pants terror and torment and the moments you’ll never forget, come to the Premier League, come to the title race. Come to watch Liverpool, the game’s ultimate thrill-seekers. There won’t be a fingernail left on Merseyside if this continues. The Premier League title race is still alive, but once more the Reds had to drag themselves away from the edge of the cliff to keep it that way. As the stakes rise, Klopp’s side simply refuse to take the easy route. Heroes emerged, some familiar, some unlikely. It's a squad game, Klopp says, and he was proven right here. Keita chose the best possible time to score his first goal for the club, equalising before half-time. "A fantastic moment," said Klopp. And then, as the time ebbed away and the stress levels rose, Salah found the goal which sparked incredible, unforgettable scenes in the away end. David Lynch, Evening Standard Eight long games Liverpool fans have waited to see Salah’s trademark open-armed celebration - boy was it worth it. Fans in the away end could have been forgiven for urging the Egyptian to pass to the arriving Roberto Firmino as he streaked toward goal, but there was never any chance of that happening. Liverpool’s No.11 certainly didn’t look to be carrying any mental burden as he picked out the far side of Angus Gunn’s net with a finish reminiscent of so many of his efforts last season. And you could see how much it meant to him as he whipped his shirt off in front of the celebrating Reds fans in the immediate aftermath. If that is the start of a big period for Salah, he could not have timed it any better. If City somehow don’t crack under this pressure, they will deserve the quadruple trophy victory it will likely bring about. If it is Liverpool lifting the league championship in May, this relentless run of wins will have much to do with it. Jack Pitt-Brooke, Independent How much more drama can this title race take? How much more tension can Liverpool put themselves through, and still keep mastering it? How much more can Manchester City watch on before they break under the endless pressure of it? This is a series in which every episode is a thriller, none more so than Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Southampton. No game could ever be as draining as their win over Spurs last Sunday but this was close. It was yet another late win, this time Mohamed Salah making the difference, running 50 yards on the break, with 10 minutes left. One of the greatest moments yet in this unforgettable season, and one that showed that however Liverpool are playing, it does not especially matter much anymore. All the matters is getting over the line. They only have to do this five more times and then Manchester City will have to be immaculate on their far longer, harder run-in if they are to defend their title. This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.<doc-sep>Mohamed Salah (second right) scored his first goal in nine games to help Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 (AFP Photo/Glyn KIRK ) Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Liverpool needed more late goals to move top of the Premier League once more as Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson struck in the final 10 minutes to earn a 3-1 victory at Southampton on Friday. Jurgen Klopp's men had to come from behind at St. Mary's after Shane Long's early opener. However, Naby Keita's first goal for the club brought the visitors level before Salah and Henderson's strikes took Liverpool two points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. The league leaders also needed late goals to beat Fulham and Tottenham in their last two games, but they refuse to give up the chase of a City side eyeing history with a quadruple of trophies. Southampton started the evening just five points above the relegation zone at the other end of the table, but had won their past two games as part of a general upturn in form since Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge in December. And the hosts looked more like the side going for the title in the early stages as they went in front on nine minutes. Ryan Bertrand's cross picked out the run of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg into the box and his flick-on looped over Andy Robertson for Long to control and score just his fourth goal in his last 50 Premier League appearances. That was also the Irishman's 50th Premier League goal and he should have had 51 shortly after when he failed to connect with another dangerous Bertrand cross and Virgil van Dijk nearly turned the ball into his own net against his old club. Keita has failed to live up to expectations since his £53 million move from RB Leipzig last summer, but the Senegalese could hardly have picked a better moment to score his first goal for the club nine minutes before the break. Southampton were left angry that Salah was not flagged offside in the build-up, but the ball eventually fell for Trent Alexander-Arnold and his in-swinging cross was met too powerfully with his head by Keita for Gunn to keep out. Story continues Liverpool had far more control of the game after the break, but had to wait until 10 minutes from time for the crucial goal and it came on the counter-attack from a Southampton corner. Salah latched onto Henderson's headed pass and ran from inside his own half before curling in his first goal in nine games from just outside the box. Henderson had been left on the bench from the start by Klopp, but the Liverpool captain made his presence felt as a substitute as he then burst into the box to finish off Roberto Firmino's low cross to seal a vital three points.<doc-sep>SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on April 05, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Six reasons why Liverpool target Federico Chiesa would be a perfect signing by Russell Hughes Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 thanks to late goals from Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson, and Henderson’s face after the second is all of our feels. Shane Long scored first, Naby Keita got another one back. And then it was a nervous wait while the Reds tried to crack open the Saints’ defence and go top of the Premier League. Salah picked up the ball, run and weaved and attacked at pace before slotting the ball into the back of the Southampton goal. Everyone erupted. Henderson looked up to the sky and roared. Luckily, a savvy snapper managed to grab this moment and immortalize it. And now, Henderson is all of us. Want your voice heard? Join the Rush The Kop team! Write for us! The roar, the veins bulging, the look of sheer ecstasy. If that wasn’t you after Salah scored and you claim to be a Liverpool fan, for shame. Just look at it. Just look. A thing of beauty. But then there was more joy to be had as Henderson then hit his first goal for 18 months and wrapped up all three points. It was so nervous so long, and then all of a sudden it wasn’t. How good is football. GOAL! Mo Salah smashes Liverpool into the lead! A brilliant finish after a long, long run from the Egyptian – and that’s his 50th #PL Goal! 80’ Southampton 1 – 2 Liverpool. #OptusSport #SOULIV pic.twitter.com/ojcBnq7w9w — Optus Sport (@OptusSport) April 5, 2019 Oh, and by the way, Salah has now gone ahead of Liverpool legends Fernando Torres and Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez to become the quickest Red to reach 50 Premier League goals. What a legend. The pressure is now back on Manchester City. They don’t look like folding under it, but then they didn’t look like losing against Newcastle United, Crystal Palace or Leicester City. GOAL! That’s the points secured for the Reds! Jordan Henderson comes off the bench to score for the first time in a year and a half. 86’ Southampton 1 – 3 Liverpool. #OptusSport #SOULIV pic.twitter.com/3YTwgI6uF3 — Optus Sport (@OptusSport) April 5, 2019 Anything can happen. All Liverpool can do is keep on winning, keep trusting the process and do the best they can.<doc-sep>
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with team mates Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Jordan Henderson of Liverpool after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on April 05, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Liverpool 3-1 Southampton: Jordan Henderson’s face is all of us by Russell Hughes Liverpool beat Southampton after Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock before airing Andy Robertson. Luckily Jordan Henderson was on hand to make the save. Salah scored a glorious, gorgeous, electric breakaway goal to give the Reds the lead after Shane Long scored first for the Saints. And while he was in the ecstatic throes of his celebration, the Egyptian completely aired Robertson and left Henderson to pick up the pieces. Want your voice heard? Join the Rush The Kop team! Write for us! GOAL! Mo Salah smashes Liverpool into the lead! A brilliant finish after a long, long run from the Egyptian – and that’s his 50th #PL Goal! 80’ Southampton 1 – 2 Liverpool. #OptusSport #SOULIV pic.twitter.com/ojcBnq7w9w — Optus Sport (@OptusSport) April 5, 2019 It was another huge moment in this weird and wonderful Liverpool season, and the goal came after people were starting to fear the worse and maybe even lose a bit of hope. But then when Henderson thumped in his first in 18 months after driving into the box the result was secured and it left thousands of Reds going home with a glorious smile on their face. The England international was left out the side in favour of a midfield trio of Gini Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho – and Keita delivered a return on Jurgen Klopp’s trust by scoring the equalizing goal. Salah hadn’t scored for eight games but this was the perfect response to those who thought he’d lost his touch – and those who figured this was proof of the Egyptian being a one season wonder. But the way the former AS Roma man took the ball, dribbled with pace and finished with aplomb will put those rumours to bed once and for all. The front three are so dangerous because one of them will do the job. It had been Salah, then it was Sadio Mane and then it was Roberto Firmino popping up with vital goals at important moments. And if you’re going to win the league, you need moments like that to go your way.