Liverpool emerges triumphant with a 3-2 victory over Southampton, securing an eight-point lead in the Premier League standings.

SOUTHAMPTON – Liverpool took advantage of Manchester City’s stumble to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League to eight points with a hard-fought 3-2 victory on the road against Southampton, who are currently in last place in the standings.

City, who are on a five-match losing run in all competitions, were beaten 4-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur a day earlier, offering the Reds a chance to widen their advantage at the summit. Liverpool and City meet on Dec 1 at Anfield.

The last time a team had a bigger lead at the top of the table at this stage of the season was 31 years ago.

Yet early on at St Mary’s, Ibrahima Konate was arguably fortunate not to give away a penalty after he pushed Adam Armstrong from behind in the seventh minute, but the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed the contact on the Southampton attacker to be minimal.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Reds defender did get a yellow card for fouling Paul Onuachu to prevent a counter-attack.

But on 30 minutes, the Saints handed the Reds the lead in a scenario that has already played out a few times this season.

Southampton’s dogmatic insistence on playing out from the back saw goalkeeper Alex McCarthy play a risky pass and two passes later, Dominik Szoboszlai had intercepted the ball on the edge of the area and gleefully fired past McCarthy.

But Russell Martin’s team drew level three minutes before half-time when Tyler Dibling, an 18-year-old academy product who has been the bright spark of their season so far, was deemed to have been fouled inside the box by left-back Andy Robertson.

The foul was indisputable but there was some doubt as to whether it had taken place outside the box, but VAR ruled in Southampton’s favour this time.

Armstrong’s resultant penalty was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, but he made no mistake from the rebound.

Early in the second half, the Saints were dealt a blow when the impressive Onuachu had to come off after an innocuous-looking trip from Cody Gakpo.

Despite that, it was Southampton who took the lead five minutes later on 56 minutes.

Again Dibbling was involved, receiving the ball on the right wing during a Southampton counter. He controlled the ball and picked out Armstrong, who in turn found Mateus Fernandes for a simple finish past Kelleher.

Then, yet again, poor judgment cost the Saints another goal.

On 65 minutes, McCarthy rushed out after Ryan Gravenberch played a long pass forward to Mohamed Salah, but he was caught in no-man’s land and the Egyptian slotted the ball into an unguarded net to extend his scoring run in the league to five matches.

McCarthy was only playing because summer signing Aaron Ramsdale and Gavin Bazunu are both injured.

Summing up his erratic display, McCarthy produced a good save to deny a header from Luis Diaz but from the resultant corner, he completely missed his attempted punch clear but Gravenberch could not capitalise.

Seven minutes from time, Liverpool went ahead again after a handball from substitute Yuki Sugawara offered Salah a chance to score from the spot.

He duly obliged and later on could have even had a hat-trick after hitting the post on 88 minutes.