Liverpool rise to the occasion after trailing Southampton early 0-1 to ensure the Premier League crown will be decided on the final day of the season. Liverpool's deep bench pushes Premier League race to the end but destiny may decide with Man City in control.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he made nine changes to his line-up against Southampton because he needed to field players who were ready for a "proper fight".
The Reds ensured the Premier League title race will go to the final day of the season by coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s. Goals from Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip helped Klopp's side claim three points after Nathan Redmond netted an early opener following a superb solo run.
But Klopp's starting XI appeared justified as the Reds fought their way back into the match to keep them just one point behind table-toppers Manchester City heading into the final game of the season. It comes as Mohamed Salah was spotted enjoying some lunch in Chesire after missing out on the trip to Southamptonaltogether.
Jurgen Klopp was 'touched' by the performance of his fringe players in Liverpool's victory at Southampton, likening their quality to having 'Ferraris in the garage'.
Liverpool are just a point behind Manchester City ahead of Sunday's finale, when the Reds will host Wolves and City face Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
Player ratings
Southampton: McCarthy (5), Walker-Peters (5), Lyanco (6), Stephens (6), Salisu (6), Tella (6), Redmond (7), Ward-Prowse (7), Diallo (6), Broja (6), Elyounoussi (6).
Subs: S. Armstrong (6), C. Adams (6)
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Gomez (6), Konate (7), Matip (7), Tsimikas (7), Jones (7), Elliott (7), Milner (7), Minamino (7), Jota (7), Firmino (8).
Subs: Henderson (7), Origi (6), Keita (6)
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
What needs to happen on Sunday for Liverpool to be champions?
Man City play Aston Villa while Liverpool would play Wolves.
Man City will clinch the title if they at least match Liverpool's result on the final day.A City defeat and Liverpool draw would also be enough for Guardiola's men, assuming City's loss to Villa did not cause a seven-goal swing on goal difference.
Opta stats - Liverpool still unbeaten in 2022
— Liverpool are the only side yet to lose a Premier League match in 2022, remaining unbeaten in their first 18 matches this year (W15 D3). They are first side to remain unbeaten in their first 18 Premier League matches of a calendar year since Chelsea in 2008 (first 26).
— Southampton have dropped 29 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, the most of any side and the most by a team in a single season since the Saints themselves dropped 29 in the 2018-19 season.
— Since the start of March, only Watford (9) have lost more Premier League games than Southampton (8), while only the Hornets have shipped more goals (28) than the Saints (26).
— Liverpool have scored 16 headed Premier League goals this season, the most of any side, while no team has conceded more headers than Southampton (14). The last three instances of a team scoring 16+ headed goals in a season have been Liverpool: in 2018-19 (19) and 2019-20 (18).
— Liverpool's Joel Matip has ended on the winning side in all eight Premier League matches when he's found the net, while he's only lost in 10 of his 125 Premier League appearances (8%), the lowest ratio of any of the 1,081 players to appear at least 100 times in the competition's history.
— Takumi Minamino has scored in each of his last two Premier League starts for Liverpool, separated by 514 days (vs Crystal Palace in December 2020 and Southampton). It was the biggest gap between scoring in consecutive starts for a Premier League club since Duncan Ferguson for Everton in April 2002 (vs Leicester) and September 2003 (vs Leeds), a gap of 533 days.
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