As Manchester City need no reminding, the record Premier League points tally stands at 100. They secured it two years ago, in 38 games. Liverpool have brought up a century of their own now, but in just 34. They have 100 points from the last available 102 in league games; not over an entire campaign, admittedly, but at a rate that is unparalleled ever.
In the meantime, Liverpool have a landmark of their own. By seeing off Southampton, they equalled City’s divisional record of 20 successive home victories. They have won 16 in a row anywhere and their lead at the top of the table has stretched to 22 points, the biggest in English top-flight history.
Only Arsenal’s Invincibles have bettered their 42-game unbeaten run. They are increasingly surreal statistics from a team who are redefining the notion of what is possible with unrivaled consistency.
“I have never seen it,” admitted Jurgen Klopp. “We are not perfect, not even close. We don’t care about being perfect. We just try and use our skills in the best possible way. The boys do that and that is why we have these kind of numbers.”
It was why Liverpool, aided by a Mohamed Salah double, routed an excellent Southampton side.
“What a strange result in the end,” added Klopp. “What a team Southampton is. I am so long in football I never saw a turnaround like that.”
He was referring to Saints’ revival after losing 9-0 to Leicester, but this turnaround came immediately after the break in the space of a few seconds courtesy of events in both boxes.
“A crucial moment,” added Klopp. “The game would have been going in a different direction.”
Southampton were aggrieved Danny Ings was denied a penalty, feeling he was tripped by Fabinho and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I don’t see the reason why he should go down. He is alone in front of the goalkeeper. He hits him twice.”
But referee Kevin Friend played on, Liverpool advanced at pace and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picked out the bottom corner of a static Alex McCarthy’s net.
It was the immutable law of the ex – the Englishman began his career at St Mary’s – and ensured another old Saint, the injured Sadio Mane, was not missed.
There are times when Oxlade-Chamberlain seems an awkward fit in the front three, but this was not one. His second goal in successive games was fashioned by two backheels, the first from Andrew Robertson, the second from Roberto Firmino, to set the scorer up. “Sensational goal,” added Klopp.
Liverpool’s fondness for the backheel was such that Virgil van Dijk had attempted to score with one when he might have been better off trying a more orthodox shot. It mattered not as, having broken the deadlock, Liverpool surged clear of obdurate opponents. Klopp altered Fabinho’s role at the break. “Then we started rolling,” he said.
Their second goal came from the newly prolific Jordan Henderson, whose third of the campaign equalled his tally from the previous three seasons.
The selfless Firmino set him up for a well-judged finish. The captain’s increasingly huge influence was reflected when he set up the third, releasing Salah on the counter-attack.
The Egyptian dinked a finish over McCarthy. He bundled the fourth over the goalkeeper after leading a swift break and receiving a return pass from Firmino. The Brazilian’s display summed up the strangeness of his season: he played a part in three goals but still has not found the net at Anfield, with McCarthy thwarting him.
Newcomer Takumi Minamino spooned a shot over when he could have scored his first Liverpool goal but Klopp’s side got four and could have had more. McCarthy was untested until the 25th minute, and rather busier thereafter. At the other end, Alisson was required to save from Moussa Djenepo, Shane Long and Ings. “The finishes were good but Ali is there,” said Klopp. “Southampton could have won this game.”
Ings was outstanding on his Anfield return, but it was sadly symbolic when the goal-shy Long accidentally blocked a shot from his strike partner. “I wanted to see this game when we go one up,” added Hasenhuttl. “I enjoyed every minute from my team. Against the best team in the world playing like this for 50 minutes is a massive signal.”
