Coming out of the international break for an away game against a team at the bottom of the table, this had all the makings of a banana peel match for the Reds and it looked like it could go that route from the start. Southampton took the lead in the 56th minute thanks to young midfielder Matheus Fernandes, but then it became the Mohamed Salah show as Liverpool fought back to take all three points. Salah, who scored in Liverpool’s fourth consecutive league game, has been in top form with 10 goals and six assists, and continues to lead Liverpool’s attack with 32.
In addition to a strong midfield, the Reds know who they are under Slot and have been able to execute regardless of the competition. A critical week is coming up against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League. While Liverpool have faced challenges during this young season, there is nothing more difficult than facing the reigning Champions League and Premier League champions in the same week.
This is where Slot’s depth will be critical, as minute management was something on his mind heading into Southampton. Regulars Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz were rested against the Saints, coming off the bench, to be ready for a vibrant Anfield on Wednesday. Liverpool have given 15 players 500 minutes or more between the Premier League and the Champions League, losing just one of their 16 games played, a shocking result for Nottingham Forest.
To win a title and compete on all fronts, it not only depends on what the first XI can do, but also on the depth the players can bring to the table, and with 13 different players recording a goal contribution this season between the UCL and the league, there aren’t many teams getting more out of their entire squad than Liverpool at the moment. Defensively, the Reds have limited attacks to areas where they can engage them and, with Salah, everyone knows where to look when a goal is needed.
In the history of the Premier League, no manager has achieved 10 wins in a shorter period than Slot’s 12 games, which is level with Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti – pretty good company to share. Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp, already maintained what Liverpool did well, but changed his attacking game to make it repeatable. It will be difficult to maintain the pace the Reds are on, but if they can get through the week without suffering a defeat, it will set them up for further success and a potential trophy or two once the season comes to a close.
