Liverpool managed to turn the game around on Tuesday night at St. Mary’s Stadium, fighting back from a goal down to beat Southampton 2-1. This result has set up a thrilling finish to the 2021-22 season, as the Reds have cut Manchester City's lead at the top of the table to just one point with only one game remaining. Having just lifted the FA Cup after beating Chelsea at Wembley, Liverpool proved once again that they are a powerhouse capable of challenging for the league title until the very end. The victory was sealed by a decisive second-half header from Joel Matip, which kept their championship dreams alive.
Jurgen Klopp opted for a heavily rotated lineup, introducing nine new players compared to the team that defeated Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup final. In an effort to manage injuries, the club rested defensive pillar Virgil van Dijk as well as stars Mohamed Salah and Fabinho. Additionally, Sadio Mane was not included in the matchday squad.
The pressure was on for Klopp's men, as a win on the south coast was mandatory to stay in the title hunt. Things looked bleak early on when Nathan Redmond stunned the visitors in the 13th minute with a magnificent individual goal. Redmond cut inside from the left wing and fired a curling shot from the edge of the box; the ball took a slight deflection off James Milner before hitting the back of the net. This opening goal for the hosts sparked some controversy, as there were questions about whether Diogo Jota had been fouled by Lyanco during the buildup to Redmond's strike.
Liverpool didn't stay down for long, however, and found a well-earned equalizer before the 30-minute mark. After receiving a brilliant through ball from Jota, Takumi Minamino took control and fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net at the near post, leaving Alex McCarthy with no chance.
Following the equalizer, the rotated Liverpool side took complete control of the match. After pushing for a lead for some time, they finally broke through in the 67th minute. A defensive attempt by Elyounoussi to clear a header only succeeded in nodding the ball toward Matip, who skillfully looped a header into the top right corner. Despite his best efforts, McCarthy couldn't reach the ball.
With this win, Liverpool has ensured that the battle for the Premier League title will be decided on the final day. Still chasing a historic quadruple, the Reds will host Wolves at Anfield this Sunday. Meanwhile, Manchester City will be fighting for the crown in their fixture against Aston Villa.