Southampton vs. Liverpool: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Southampton came from behind to down Liverpool, 3-2, at St. Mary's in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Reds moved ahead by way of a stellar first half that saw Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge find the back of the net, but they were unable to finish off the contest by half-time.
Substitute Sadio Mane gave the hosts some hope with a 64th-minute goal before Graziano Pelle evened the score in the 83rd minute.
With the momentum fully in their favor, Southampton pulled ahead for good in the 86th minute, thanks to Mane's second goal.
Here's a look at our winners and losers from the five-goal thriller in Southampton.
Winner: Sadio Mane
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Sadio Mane could've buried his head and produced a lackluster effort for the rest of the second half after his penalty was saved by Simon Mignolet in the 49th minute.
Instead, the half-time substitute did the opposite and sent the Saints home with three points, thanks to a pair of strikes in the final period.
Mane brought the Saints within one goal of the lead in the 64th minute with a shot from an angle on the left side of the box.
Graziano Pelle eventually leveled the contest at two goals apiece, and three minutes later, Mane struck from close to the same spot on the pitch to put the hosts ahead.
The win moved Southampton up to seventh place in the Premier League table and put some distance between them and Liverpool in the race for the UEFA Europa League.
Loser: Martin Skrtel
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Martin Skrtel had a disastrous 45-minute shift at the back for Liverpool on Sunday.
The center-back found himself in the middle of criticism four minutes after his entrance, as he brought down Pelle by the arm and conceded a penalty.
Luckily for Skrtel, he was bailed out by Simon Mignolet's save on that occasion, but he failed to stay out of trouble for the rest of the match.
Skrtel was one of a few players responsible for Southampton's game-winner, as he missed a header following Mignolet's botched clearance.
The defeat was a crushing blow to the morale of the club after advancing to the final eight of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Winner: Graziano Pelle
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Things weren't looking great for Graziano Pelle and the Saints attack in the minutes leading up to his equalizer.
The 30-year-old forward did not have a shot on goal to his name before he tied the game in the 83rd minute.
Pelle sent an attempt into the net from just outside the box to spark the Saints' comeback, which ended when he slotted a pass through to Sadio Mane for the game-winner in the 86th minute.
The Southampton forward ended the match with two shots on target, two assists and a goal.
Loser: Christian Benteke
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Liverpool's failure to finish off the game and earn three points was partly due to the poor finishing of Christian Benteke.
The Belgian came on as a replacement for Daniel Sturridge in the 69th minute and failed to capitalize on two key opportunities before Southampton pounced.
In the 74th minute, Benteke had a great chance to slot home Liverpool's third from the right side of the box, but he sent his effort wide to the left of goal.
Benteke wasn't the only player who failed to kill off Southampton on Sunday, but a late second-half tally from the substitute would've destroyed the momentum the Saints gained from Sadio Mane's first strike.
Winner: Divock Origi
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Daniel Sturridge may receive more plaudits for his play in the first half on Sunday due to his 22nd-minute goal, but Divock Origi was the driving force of the Liverpool attack for the majority of the match.
The 20-year-old Belgian helped create Sturridge's strike as he made a marauding run down the left wing on a counter before cutting into the box.
As the match progressed, Origi's influence in the final third grew, thanks to his strong presence on the ball in all areas of the pitch.
If Origi continues to produce for the rest of the season, the Reds will still have a chance at earning a high finish in the Premier League.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
