Lewis Steele

🚨 Liverpool XI to play Fulham: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.

Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa make the bench.

No mate. I’ll need to make a decision to use one or the other soon but atm half and half ish. Prefer it here.

Hello Bluesky.

Is this platform fading away already? Feels like it’s lost its momentum, certainly in the circles I am interested in.

Liverpool vs Real Madrid - Champions League: Live score and updates Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates Liverpool take on Real Madrid at Anfield and Aston Villa host Juventus at Villa Park in the Champions League.

Who's excited?

Tonight Liverpool host Real Madrid in what is perhaps the biggest match-up of this year's group stage.

Follow all the action with me at Mail Sport with expert analysis from Oliver Holt and @lewissteele.bsky.social.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

Salah reveals he is yet to receive any offers to stay at Liverpool LEWIS STEELE: At St Mary's, Salah personally pointed at some journalists and asked to speak to them, clearly with the intent to get his feelings off his chest.

🚨 BIG BREAKING

🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah says he is disappointed in the club as he reveals no contract offer is on the table. Says he loves playing for Liverpool but is “more out than in” at the moment.

🔴 Full story on @MailSport #LFC
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

Now writing my analysis piece on my phone while waiting in the mixed zone to, hopefully, chat to a player or two

Mo Salah the first Liverpool player to score in five straight PL games since Mo Salah in 2021.

That penalty was his 100th away goal for the club in all comps.

#STATS

Slot conducts the away end and they oblige by singing his song

I'm going to end up mentioning Mookie Betts in another article aren't I.

There are 78 points left to play for so no need to get carried away but being eight points clear feels huge, especially noting this was meant to be a transition season for Liverpool.

This was far from their best level - two of the goals were gifted by Saints' stupidity - but another massive win.

3-2 Liverpool Salah pen

Penalty Liverpool

2-2 Mo Salah

2-1 Southampton Mateus Fernandes

A big cheer from the St Mary's crowd as Alex McCarthy hoofs it long instead of messing about with the ball at the back again

What changes would you make?

Personally, Liverpool are lacking control in midfield so Alexis Mac Allister has to be thrown on soon.

Luis Diaz, too, whether down the left or through the middle.

Saints fans singing 'shit Andy Carroll' to Darwin Nunez which means you should probably stick the house on him to score next goal

1-1. Adam Armstrong scores a rebound after Caoimhin Kelleher saves the first effort

Penalty Southampton.

Andy Robertson with the foul on Tyler Dibling after Virgil van Dijk gave the ball away cheaply.

But hold on... looks like it's outside the box.

An applause from all four corners of the ground as Adam Lallana is substituted with an injury

Big chance for Saints to draw level as Flynn Downes nearly atones for his earlier error but, as he has done in every game on this run in the team, Caoimhin Kelleher stands tall and makes a top reaction save.

'Liverpool, top the league' chants from the away end for the first time today. They're 1-0 up from a gift from Southampton - but Dominik Szoboszlai still had lots to do and he finished with style.

1-0 Liverpool Dominik Szoboszlai

Konate booked for a tug on Onuachu

As many predicted we have a very open game on our hands here. Southampton's murderball giving Liverpool plenty of openings BUT Saints have created a couple of chances and Adam Armstrong wants a penalty for a push from Ibou Konate. Not given but a warning

My view

I spent the international break running and gyming every day all for my hard work to be undone in one afternoon at Southampton.

Got to do five things for actual work here: full player ratings, an analysis piece (both to be filed bang on the final whistle), a quotes piece, lots of updates for our live blog and any video content. Busy busy.

Just setting up the ratings here. They won't all get 6s don't worry.

Pre match scran. Lamb tagine. Went down maybe too nicely.

Here we are.