JOYOUS JOTA!

Relentless Reds look simply unstoppable

LIVERPOOL scored when they wanted, Southampton were relieved to avoid another 9-0 hiding. The Premier League cliche of any team being able to beat another looked fanciful given the extreme onesided nature of events at Anfield.

Saints’ resistance was broken by Diogo Jota after just one minute and 51 seconds. By the time he and Thiago Alcantara had added goals before half-time, it was game over.

Southampton, whose experimental three-man defence was a disaster, must have feared a repeat of drubbings against Leicester and Manchester United when their former player Virgil van Dijk made it 4-0 after 52 minutes.

Fortunately for them, Liverpool declared after that with Jurgen Klopp removing the influential Jordan Henderson and Thiago with the Merseyside derby against Everton in mind on Wednesday.

For once, Jota took the scoring glory away from Mo Salah with his first Anfield brace before he was given a huge ovation when substituted after 80 minutes.

‘Exceptional player, exceptional boy,’ said Klopp about his forward.

‘He was the perfect signing for us. He has everything a Liverpool player needs, technical skills, physical skills. And he is smart, he can learn the tactical stuff quickly. He has the speed and desire to finish situations off.’

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was missing Ibrahima Diallo and Moussa Djenepo, whose wife is expecting a baby, took responsibility for trying out a new system with wing-backs.

‘It was meant to surprise them but it seemed to surprise us more. It was my mistake, we gave them too many spaces,’ said Hasenhuttl. ‘Having said that, it is hard to defend against a team that are on fire. Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world.’

There was such a gap in class despite Alisson making a couple of good saves in Liverpool’s goal, and the Reds have now scored 39 times in their 13 league games as they moved up to second place, a point behind leaders Chelsea.

Complacency was Southampton’s only hope and even that was extinguished after 111 seconds.

The returning Andy Robertson burst down the left, exchanged passes with Sadio Mane and crossed for Jota to score.

If the Portuguese forward had not been there, Salah was waiting behind for a tap in such was Liverpool’s attacking intent.

The visitors’ best chance of salvation arrived after 25 minutes when Armando Broja managed to break free of Liverpool’s defence but could not beat Alisson, who narrowed his angle to save.

That served as a wake-up call for Liverpool, who made sure they quickly put the game to bed.

After Henderson had skied a good opportunity, he released Salah down the right after 32 minutes and when the Egyptian fired in a cross, Jota was fox-in-the-box.

Thiago, who had scored a wonder goal against Porto last Wednesday, was urged to shoot by Liverpool fans as he collected the ball 25 yards from goal. This time, there was a variation with Thiago shimmying outside of Jan Bednarek before smashing the ball left-footed from 18 yards, deflecting off Lyanco into the net. 3-0 after 37 minutes.

It needed a last-ditch tackle from Tino Livramento on Jota early in the second half to stop Liverpool quickly adding a fourth. Alex McCarthy then twisted his body to parry away Mane’s shot, only to concede from the resulting corner.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s outswinging corner fell at Van Dijk’s feet 12 yards out and the Dutchman scored with a first-time shot that slipped through McCarthy’s hands due to its power.

Klopp decided the game was won and made changes with James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain given game time. Jota came close again to completing his treble when he stretched to reach Robertson’s excellent delivery but the ball arced over the bar. McCarthy then fisted away a drive by OxladeChamberlain who looked keen to make an impression.

Jota was withdrawn with 10 minutes left, disappointed not to get his hat-trick. For Liverpool, it was another case of job well done.