4 talking points as Liverpool overcome Southampton in five-goal thriller | OneFootball

Liverpool had been warned.

Arne Slot spent much of the build-up to Liverpool's clash with Southampton lauding the "intriguing" playing style of their hosts. The fact that Russell Martin's side were firmly rooted to the foot of the table was of little relevance for a wary Reds boss keen to avoid any complacency.

It didn't work. After Dominik Szoboszlai fired the visitors in front, Southampton struck twice on either side of the interval to lead 2-1 with less than half an hour to play. It took a late brace from Mohamed Salah for the division's leaders to earn all three points, but there were some worrying takeaways for Slot to mull over.

Easy-osey Liverpool

A slack challenge from Andy Robertson gave Southampton a lifeline in Saturday's contest / Robin Jones/GettyImages

One of Joe Fagan's favourite expressions during his trophy-laden three-decade association with Liverpool was "easy-osey". That sense of complacency, the fire burning inside fading, always threatened to undermine a side enjoying a strong run of form.

Slot's modern iteration of the Reds were gripped by this intangible force for much of Sunday's trip. Andy Robertson gave away a controversial spot-kick with a slack tackle, but he was hardly the only visitor guilty of a drop in concentration.

Virgil van Dijk's failed back-heel kick-started the move for that penalty, Ibrahima Konate was perhaps fortunate to not give away one of his own at the start of the match and Dominik Szoboszlai was far too weak when challenging Tyler Dibling in the build-up to Southampton's second goal.

Liverpool miss their 'Football Doctor'

Alexis Mac Allister came on in the second half for Liverpool / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Jurgen Klopp was always quick to laud the intelligence of Alexis Mac Allister. The burly German hailed his cerebral midfielder as "super smart" and "a football doctor", providing the antidote to any issue that the team had. While he hasn't always been at his best this season - fatigue from two years of non-stop football perhaps taking its toll - Mac Allister's unique blend of composure and calm was lacking at St Mary's.

The sense of control that has defined most Liverpool games this season was replaced by an entertaining air of chaos. Southampton became just the second side to score more than one Premier League goal against Slot's side, launching dangerous forward thrusts at each turnover. Only Manchester United have managed to register a higher xG tally against Liverpool this term.

Slot has previously explained that Liverpool's water-tight rearguard is built firstly on control, and when that fades, hard work. After a draining international break for many players, it's no wonder some recovery runs were made with less urgency.

Mac Allister spent the first hour watching Liverpool trail 2-1 from the bench after a bruising spell away with Argentina. While the Argentine can't take much credit for the two-goal turnaround, his replacement - Dominik Szoboszlai - struggled to exert the same level of control after opening the scoring. Curtis Jones, who had been enjoying the best form of his career, was also below par in midfield following his first two caps for England this month.

How long can Liverpool rely upon Mohamed Salah?

Mohamed Salah showed off his physique after firing Liverpool in front / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Another game, another goal for Mohamed Salah. The time-defying 32-year-old is enjoying arguably the greatest form of his Liverpool career. Another brace against the Saints took Salah's total for the league season to ten goals already. When his impressive assist tally is taken into account, Liverpool's talisman has directly contributed to two-thirds of their entire league goal haul (16 of 24). No other team in the division is as reliant upon one player.

An ever-shortening contract makes Liverpool's dependency upon Salah even more concerning. As has been discussed once or twice already this season, the Egyptian icon will be a free agent next summer and can begin negotiating a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onwards.

Talks of an extension with Liverpool are still ongoing but no agreement is imminent. If Salah is allowed to leave, the Reds will have to somehow replace his prodigious output. But even if he stays, Slot will need to find a way of making his team less reliant upon one ageing winger.

Pro and cons of Russell Martin's principles

Russell Martin (right) turned away in disgust while Arne Slot pivoted in delight / Robin Jones/GettyImages

"On the training pitch, we know how good we are," Southampton's Flynn Downes insisted ahead of Liverpool's arrival. At times on Sunday, the hosts translated the skills honed at Staplewood to St Mary's. A particularly flowing move led to Southampton's second. Yet, the same struggles in possession which have plagued their season were on show again.

Liverpool's opener went down as the seventh error leading to a goal conceded by Southampton in the Premier League this season - a division high - and that singular blunder had multiple layers.

Alex McCarthy should not have rolled the ball to a surrounded Mateus Fernandes on the edge of his own box. The Portuguese midfielder then ceded possession but Downes still found time to give the ball away again. That, clearly, was not part of the plans devised on the training pitch.

McCarthy tried for the remainder of the game to make it eight errors leading to goals. The veteran keeper was eventually at fault for Salah's equaliser, bizarrely leaving the safety of his goal line to offer the forward an open net, and couldn't get a glove on the decisive penalty.