Liverpool’s return to the Premier League was marked by controversy when a penalty was awarded against Southampton in the 40th minute following Andrew Robertson’s challenge on Tyler Dibling. Replays showed that the foul appeared to occur outside the box, sparking debate.
Southampton had taken the lead earlier in the match, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a stunning goal with his weaker foot in the 30th minute.
It was Szoboszlai’s second goal for the Reds, his first coming in the 3-1 EFL Cup win against West Ham, suggesting the Hungarian may be regaining his scoring form.
Shortly after, Robertson was involved in a disputed incident where a Southampton player fell after contact. Video footage indicated the tackle occurred outside the penalty area, yet referee Michael Oliver upheld the penalty decision, citing “no conclusive evidence” to overturn it.
The Premier League Match Centre later issued a statement confirming the decision had been reviewed by VAR and Oliver himself, who maintained that the foul took place inside the box.
Despite Caoimhin Kelleher saving Adam Armstrong’s initial penalty attempt, the Irish goalkeeper couldn’t stop the rebound, allowing Southampton to equalize at St. Mary’s Stadium.
In the second half, Southampton took the lead again in the 56th minute through Mateus Fernandes. However, Liverpool fought back, with Mohamed Salah capitalizing on a mistake by Southampton’s keeper to level the match in the 65th minute. Salah wasn’t done yet, as he converted a penalty in the 83rd minute to secure a 3-2 victory for Liverpool.
With this win, Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Tottenham.
The Reds now turn their attention to Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid at Anfield, aiming to continue their flawless run in the competition.
Below is footage showing Andrew Robertson’s tackle, which led to Southampton’s penalty equalizer just before half-time:
