Liverpool have gone 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League table after running out 3-1 winners over Southampton on Saturday.
The Reds were made to work hard for their victory. Indeed, they trailed the Saints at half-time.
Liverpool found themselves a goal down after a mix-up between Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk allowed Will Smallbone to score.
Darwin Nunez equalised for the Reds in the 51st minute and two Mohamed Salah penalties then turned the game around for the hosts.
Tim Sherwood admitted that Arne Slot made a key decision in the game which the pundit would have done differently.
The decision proved a masterstroke and Sherwood conceded that it was why Slot is in the dugout and he’s doing punditry.
Tim Sherwood suggests he would have taken Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez off at half-time
Nunez had a poor first half as he missed a number chances and was lucky to avoid being sent off.
The Liverpool forward kicked out at Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters, but he was only shown a yellow card.
Slot kept faith in Nunez and he went on to repay his manager by scoring the equaliser and winning the penalty that allowed Salah to put the Reds ahead.
“For me, it wasn’t a sensible decision keeping [Nunez] on the pitch after half-time,” Sherwood told Premier League Productions.
“The manager is paid to make big decisions and that’s why he’s there and I’m sat here.”
How Darwin Nunez fared against Southampton
The cliché ‘a game of two halves’ applies to Nunez in this game, as he followed up a poor first half with a great second period.
He was lucky not to get sent off for his kick at Walker-Peters, and was equally lucky not to be taken off by Slot at the break.
However, he redeemed himself in the second half and his overall stats from the game are decent.
| Minutes played | 68′ |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Shots off target | 2 |
| Penalty won | 1 |
| Big chances missed | 2 |
| Touches | 25 |
| Accurate passes | 14/15 (93%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Ground duels (won) | 6 (2) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 2 (1) |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Total tackles | 1 |
Liverpool are next in action on Tuesday 11 March as they host Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Reds then contest the League Cup final on Sunday 16 March as they face Newcastle United at Wembley.
