Naby Keita – 6. The Guinean was given the last seven minutes at Firmino’s expense. He helped his team see out the victory.
AP Photo
SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy – 5. The 32-year-old was playing his first game this year and looked rusty. He should have done better at the near post for the equaliser but had no chance for the winning goal. Reuters
Kyle Walker-Peters – 5. The 25-year-old did well going forward and was largely secure in defence. He was very slow to react for Matip’s goal, a moment that spoiled his performance.
AFP
Lyanco – 6. The Brazilian was robust in the tackle and good in the air but his distribution was poor. His challenge on Jota started the move that led to Redmond’s goal.
Getty
Jack Stephens – 5. The 28-year-old was physical and strong but his lack of composure on the ball let him down. He should have been quicker to close down Minamino for the equalizer.
Getty
Mohammed Salisu – 5. The Ghanaian tried to give his team width when they had the ball and tuck back in when Liverpool had possession. This led to him being caught in no-man’s land before Minamino’s equaliser and missing a cross that he should have cut out.
AP
Nathan Redmond – 7. The 28-year-old scored an excellent goal but his withdrawn role meant he did not get forward often enough. He did what was asked of him but he could have been used more positively.
AP
Mohamed Elyounoussi – 3. The 27-year-old was peripheral until his dreadful attempted clearance sent the ball in Matip’s direction for the winning goal. It was not a display he will remember fondly.
Reuters
James Ward-Prowse – 5. The 27-year-old sat too deep to have much impact on the game. His defensive work was to the fore but that did not play to his strengths.
Getty
Ibrahima Diallo – 4. The Frenchman looked nervous from the start and was an easy victim for the Liverpool press. He was replaced by Romeu in the 71st minute.
Getty
Nathan Tella – 5. The 22-year-old showed some promise when he linked with Redmond for the opening goal but he drifted out of the game in the second half. Armstrong came on for him in the 71st minute.
Getty
Armando Broja – 6. It was a frustrating night for the 20-year-old, who took up potentially interesting positions but did not receive much service. He made way for Adams with eight minutes to go. AFP
SUBS: Stuart Armstrong – 5. The Scot joined the action in place of Tella in the 71st minute. He hardly touched the ball in a dispiriting cameo.
EPA
Oriol Romeu – 5. The Spaniard replaced Diallo with 19 minutes to go. He was unable to gain a foothold in the midfield as Liverpool dominated the closing stages.
Getty
Che Adams – 5. The 25-year-old was sent on for Broja for the last eight minutes. There was nothing he could do to change the direction of the game.
Getty
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian blocked a Broja shot at the near post early on but could do nothing to stop Redmond’s deflected goal. After the early flurry of action he had little to do.
PA
Joe Gomez – 6. The 24-year-old showed Redmond the inside for Southampton’s goal but might have expected more help from Milner. His cross to Jota helped set up the equaliser. He was injured and replaced by Henderson at the break.
AP
Joel Matip – 7. The 30-year-old looked a little nervous early on but grew in authority as the game developed. He was delighted to score the winning goal, even if he didn’t know much about it.
AFP
Ibrahima Konate – 6. The Frenchman had a couple of awkward moments against Broja but showed good positional sense. His distribution still needs work.
Reuters
Kostas Tsimikas – 8. The Greek provided width and his crossing was dangerous. The winning goal came from his corner, which was ironically one of his less impressive deliveries.
AFP
Harvey Elliott – 7. The 19-year-old was eager to get on the ball and used possession intelligently. He made way for Origi in the 65th minute after an encouraging performance.
AFP
James Milner – 8. The 36-year-old led the press in the first half and used the ball effectively. He might have done more to help out Gomez for the Southampton goal but when he moved to right-back he was a bundle of energy and aggression.
AP
Curtis Jones – 6. The 21-year-old was not at his best early on but he improved considerably. He was not afraid run at defenders. AP Photo
Takumi Minamino – 7. The Japanese never lacks effort and was rewarded with a splendid goal against the club he was loaned to last season. His busy approach kept the defenders occupied.
AP
Roberto Firmino – 7. The Brazilian was neat with his link-up play and repeatedly took up threatening positions. He was withdrawn for Keita with seven minutes left.
Getty
Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese set up Minamino’s goal and was generous in trying to assist teammates. He had two efforts on goal but his all-round play was to the fore rather than his finishing.
Getty
SUBS: Jordan Henderson – 7. The 31-year-old came on for Gomez after the break and ensured Liverpool retained control of the midfield. He was unceasing in his work.
EPA
Divock Origi – 6. The Belgian replaced Elliott in the 66th minute and held up the ball with characteristic strength. He headed over from a corner.
Reuters
Naby Keita – 6. The Guinean was given the last seven minutes at Firmino’s expense. He helped his team see out the victory.
AP Photo
SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy – 5. The 32-year-old was playing his first game this year and looked rusty. He should have done better at the near post for the equaliser but had no chance for the winning goal. Reuters
Kyle Walker-Peters – 5. The 25-year-old did well going forward and was largely secure in defence. He was very slow to react for Matip’s goal, a moment that spoiled his performance.
AFP
Lyanco – 6. The Brazilian was robust in the tackle and good in the air but his distribution was poor. His challenge on Jota started the move that led to Redmond’s goal.
Getty
Jack Stephens – 5. The 28-year-old was physical and strong but his lack of composure on the ball let him down. He should have been quicker to close down Minamino for the equalizer.
Getty
Mohammed Salisu – 5. The Ghanaian tried to give his team width when they had the ball and tuck back in when Liverpool had possession. This led to him being caught in no-man’s land before Minamino’s equaliser and missing a cross that he should have cut out.
AP
Nathan Redmond – 7. The 28-year-old scored an excellent goal but his withdrawn role meant he did not get forward often enough. He did what was asked of him but he could have been used more positively.
AP
Mohamed Elyounoussi – 3. The 27-year-old was peripheral until his dreadful attempted clearance sent the ball in Matip’s direction for the winning goal. It was not a display he will remember fondly.
Reuters
James Ward-Prowse – 5. The 27-year-old sat too deep to have much impact on the game. His defensive work was to the fore but that did not play to his strengths.
Getty
Ibrahima Diallo – 4. The Frenchman looked nervous from the start and was an easy victim for the Liverpool press. He was replaced by Romeu in the 71st minute.
Getty
Nathan Tella – 5. The 22-year-old showed some promise when he linked with Redmond for the opening goal but he drifted out of the game in the second half. Armstrong came on for him in the 71st minute.
Getty
Armando Broja – 6. It was a frustrating night for the 20-year-old, who took up potentially interesting positions but did not receive much service. He made way for Adams with eight minutes to go. AFP
SUBS: Stuart Armstrong – 5. The Scot joined the action in place of Tella in the 71st minute. He hardly touched the ball in a dispiriting cameo.
EPA
Oriol Romeu – 5. The Spaniard replaced Diallo with 19 minutes to go. He was unable to gain a foothold in the midfield as Liverpool dominated the closing stages.
Getty
Che Adams – 5. The 25-year-old was sent on for Broja for the last eight minutes. There was nothing he could do to change the direction of the game.
Getty
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian blocked a Broja shot at the near post early on but could do nothing to stop Redmond’s deflected goal. After the early flurry of action he had little to do.
PA
Joe Gomez – 6. The 24-year-old showed Redmond the inside for Southampton’s goal but might have expected more help from Milner. His cross to Jota helped set up the equaliser. He was injured and replaced by Henderson at the break.
AP
Joel Matip – 7. The 30-year-old looked a little nervous early on but grew in authority as the game developed. He was delighted to score the winning goal, even if he didn’t know much about it.
AFP
Ibrahima Konate – 6. The Frenchman had a couple of awkward moments against Broja but showed good positional sense. His distribution still needs work.
Reuters
Kostas Tsimikas – 8. The Greek provided width and his crossing was dangerous. The winning goal came from his corner, which was ironically one of his less impressive deliveries.
AFP
Harvey Elliott – 7. The 19-year-old was eager to get on the ball and used possession intelligently. He made way for Origi in the 65th minute after an encouraging performance.
AFP
James Milner – 8. The 36-year-old led the press in the first half and used the ball effectively. He might have done more to help out Gomez for the Southampton goal but when he moved to right-back he was a bundle of energy and aggression.
AP
Curtis Jones – 6. The 21-year-old was not at his best early on but he improved considerably. He was not afraid run at defenders. AP Photo
Takumi Minamino – 7. The Japanese never lacks effort and was rewarded with a splendid goal against the club he was loaned to last season. His busy approach kept the defenders occupied.
AP
Roberto Firmino – 7. The Brazilian was neat with his link-up play and repeatedly took up threatening positions. He was withdrawn for Keita with seven minutes left.
Getty
Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese set up Minamino’s goal and was generous in trying to assist teammates. He had two efforts on goal but his all-round play was to the fore rather than his finishing.
Getty
SUBS: Jordan Henderson – 7. The 31-year-old came on for Gomez after the break and ensured Liverpool retained control of the midfield. He was unceasing in his work.
EPA
Divock Origi – 6. The Belgian replaced Elliott in the 66th minute and held up the ball with characteristic strength. He headed over from a corner.
Reuters
Naby Keita – 6. The Guinean was given the last seven minutes at Firmino’s expense. He helped his team see out the victory.
AP Photo
