SOUTHAMPTON: Liverpool cemented their top four place with a 2-0 win over Southampton in Sunday’s late kickoff, trimming the gap to second-placed Manchester United to two points with 11 games left.

Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah scored another goal in an extraordinary season, adding to Roberto Firmino’s opener in a nonchalant win at St Mary’s.

Liverpool were too slick for a feeble Southampton as they condemned the south coast side to a place in the bottom three.

Jurgen Klopp’s side featured former defender Virgil van Dijk on his first return to the club he left in January as they moved to 54 points, two ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

“I enjoyed it today,” Van Dijk, with a smirk. No surprise there.

Van Dijk was booed on his every touch on his first return to Southampton since moving to Liverpool in late December for $100 million, making him the world’s most expensive defender.

He didn’t put a foot wrong, seemingly thriving in the atmosphere. Salah was accomplished at the other end, too.

Saints defender Wesley Hoedt made a hash of dealing with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass, allowing Salah to tee up Firmino for a clinical finish in the seventh minute.

The livewire Egyptian then stroked home the second before halftime after a snappy passing move to make it 22 goals in his debut season for Liverpool. One goal behind Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Salah could yet head to his first World Cup with Egypt as the Premier League’s top scorer.

“It was not a brilliant performance. It was difficult circumstances with the wind. We did the job. That is very important,” Klopp said. “We scored early, got the second goal in the right moment and then controlled the game. We want to finish the season top four and we need the points.”

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018