Southampton 3-2 Liverpool: Mane completes dramatic Saints fightback as Reds collapse - 5 things we learned

The Saints winger stepped off the bench to score twice as Southampton pulled off a stunning comeback after a dismal first-half

VIEW GALLERY

Liverpool's charge for Champions League football collapsed in dramatic fashion as Saints pulled off a stunning fightback at St Mary's.

Sadio Mane's fourth goal in three games against Liverpool this term proved decisive, but the Kop will curse the way they let three points slip.

Saints had been denied a blatant penalty, Dejan Lovren getting away with bringing down the escaping Shane Long, before they were stunned by two goals in four minutes.

First Philippe Coutinho , who scored a world-class goal at St Mary's last season, produced another gem for his greatest hits album, beating England keeper Fraser Forster from 25 yards, curling his effort low into the bottom corner.

And it was 2-0 to the Reds after 21 minutes as Divock Origi broke purposefully from midfield and fed Daniel Sturridge , whose finish for his seventh goal in 14 games this season was low, left-footed and clinical.

Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien

On target: Sturridge celebrates with Divock Origi

Joe Allen thought he had made it three after 33 minutes, only to be denied by a linesman's flag, but Southampton's torture wasn't over.

Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet saved sub Sadio Mane's penalty four minutes into the second half when referee Roger East decided to atone for his earlier leniency by penalising Martin Skrtel for hauling down Graziano Pelle.

But the Saints lifeboat was finally launched 19 minutes after the break as Mane beat Mignolet with a crisp finish for his first goal since December 2 – which came in the freak 6-1 mauling by Liverpool in the Capital One Cup.

Pelle's stunning equaliser from 20 yards, seven minutes from time, punished the Kop after Christian Benteke had fired a great chance wide.

And when Mane drilled home the winner from Pelle's assist three minutes later, Saints boss Ronald Koeman dashed along the touchline to join in the celebrations.
Here are five things we learned.

1. Shut that Dortmund

Reuters / Stefan Wermuth

Turnaround: Pelle celebrates his strike

On this evidence, Liverpool will fall of the top four after their late charge for Champions League football was checked in a sensational finish.

Their rapid counter-attacks in the first half were a joy to watch, but Jurgen Klopp's creaking defence fell apart when they needed to stay resolute.

But there is enough firepower, and coal left to stoke the boiler, for Jurgen Klopp's return to Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League next month to produce a happy ending.

2. Flanagan: This is your captain speaking

Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien

Skipper: Flanagan before the match

For the first time since Steven Gerrard set sail for Hollywood, a Scouser wore the Liverpool captain's armband.

With Jordan Henderson, who missed training sessions due to illness in midweek, on the bench for fitness reasons, Jon Flanagan took over handshakes, tossing coins and leading out the side.

Manager Jurgen Klopp explained: “Flanno had a good week, and with our help we thought it could be a brilliant week.”

For 80 minutes, Flanagan had a blast – and then it all fell apart.

3. Boo, Humbug

Michael Steele

Return: Saints fans made their feelings known to Lallana

No mistaking the three ex-Saints players in Liverpool's line-up.
At times, it was a private contest between Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne to see who could attract the most boos from jilted Southampton fans.

4. A beast called East

AFP/Getty

Penalty: East gives a foul against Skrtel

Decisions change games, especially in the first eight minutes, and referee Roger East needs to make an urgent appointment at his local Specsavers after his preposterous reprieve of Dejan Lovren.

The former Saints defender was never going to win any popularity contests on the south coast after his £20 million defection to Anfield in 2014, but he got away with bringing down Shane Long.

East made amends by awarding Saints a spot-kick early in the second half, and although they missed it the cavalry was coming...

5. Sturridge coming to the boil

Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien

On song: Sturridge celebrates after his goal

With the Euro 2016 finals around the corner, it's heartening for England coach Roy Hodgson that Daniel Sturridge is looking sharp and has managed eight games in 40 days without aggravating any old injuries.

Sturridge took his seventh goal of the season expertly here, and Saints were never comfortable when he drifted into pockets of space - although he ran out of gas after an hour and was hooked.

Player ratings

Forster 7 - Critical save to thwart Allen when Saints trailed 2--0

Martina 5 - Uncomfortable shift trying to suppress Coutinho and Origi

Fonte 6 - All over the stop at first, then a dramatic improvement

Van Dijk 7 - Should have scored with free header at early set piece

Bertrand 7 - Never gave up, next stop an England cap in Berlin?

Davis 7 - Tigerish, tenacious, and typically refused to throw in towel

Clasie 5 - So anonymous you hardly knew he was there

Romeu 5 - Not at the races apart from one long-range missile

Tadic 5 - The magician kept his rabbits in the top hat this time

Long 7 - Aggrieved by early penalty decision then upstaged by Mane

Pelle 8 - Roughed up Skrtel then fired a brilliant equaliser

SUBS: Wanyama (Clasie, 46)7 , Mane (Tadic, 46) MOM 8, Ward-Prowse (Romeu, 69) 6

AFP/Getty

Liverpool

Mignolet 6 - Fine penalty save only suspended Saints' fightback

Flanagan 7 - Wore captain's armband with pride but unhappy ending

Lovren 5 - Booked. Lucky to escape penalty/red card for felling Long

Sakho 6 - Usual mix of rugged athleticism and comedy gold

Clyne 6 - Unhappy return to St Mary's, but decent effort at left-back

Allen 7 - Assertive but missed great chance then denied by linesman's flag

Can 6 - Booked. Influence waned as Liverpool's resistance cracked

Origi 6 - Direct and purposeful, set up Sturridge's goal superbly but faded badly

Coutinho 7 - He just loves scoring long-range goals at St Mary's

Lallana 7 - Booed to the rafters and Saints fans had the last laugh

Sturridge 6 - Nice goal, shame about the stamina

SUBS: Skrtel [booked] (Lovren, 46) 4, Benteke (Sturridge, 70) 5, Ojo (Origi, 87)