Liverpool 3-0 Southampton

Goals:
Hoedt OG 10'
Matip 21'
Salah 45+2'

We’ve been saying “routine” a lot lately, but yeah, that was as routine as routine gets.

Mediocre but dominant. Comfortable but not remarkable. Good but nowhere near great.

Which I’m completely okay with.

To be fair, it was a different Liverpool which scored three goals in the first half. Shaqiri came in for Milner, the most advanced of the midfield three, with Keïta also returning to the bench for Henderson. We got the regular front three with Firmino in place of Sturridge, but the arrangement differed, with Firmino on the left, Mané on the right, and Salah central. And Matip also replaced Gomez, the first time we’ve seen a different back five this season.

Three goals still came, with Salah perpetually dangerous in a central role, the midfield impressive, and Shaqiri at the heart of two of the three strikes.

All three of Liverpool’s goals were rugged rather than refined, as has been the story of the season so far. An own goal, Shaqiri’s shot twice deflected off Southampton players. A set play goal, with Matip heading Alexander-Arnold’s corner into the net rather than into the sky. And a rebound from a yard out, Salah’s tap-in from Shaqiri’s free kick off the crossbar.

And zero goals still came for Southampton, with five of six first-half shots blocked by Liverpool players, as well as a tame corner header off-target after Liverpool had already scored.

3-0 at halftime meant that this match was over. Liverpool have made 2-0 leads nervous in the last three matches, allowing consolations against Leicester and Tottenham then allowing PSG back in the game before that late late late winner, but 3-0 is done, 3-0 is dusted, 3-0 is goodnight nurse.

Incidentally, Liverpool have now scored in the 45th minute or added time in four the first six league matches. The game-killing second against West Ham, the game-winning opener at Palace, the eventual game-winning second at Leicester, and the game-killing third today. Liverpool scored two – with the opposition scoring four – at that time through all of last season.

So, the formality of a second half?

I have a question. Honestly. Is it more demeaning when you run up the score – a boot stamping on a human face, forever – or when you completely turn off the gas, happy to stifle and suffocate and not really counter and just pass around the middle third? Is it worse when you get bricked or when your opponent proves its superiority by playing keep away, an old brother holding the younger at arms' length while he's punching nothing but air?

Milner replaced Shaqiri in what had to be a pre-planned substitution. Liverpool’s front three reverted to the more usual positioning. And Liverpool absolutely smothered the match into oblivion, seemingly happy to toy with Southampton.

There were a couple of counter-attack opportunities, breaking down at inopportune times or reasonably blocked or tackled by Southampton players. There was still an awful lot of counter-pressing. But neither side registered a second-half shot until the 85th minute, when Robertson smashed a volley from a knocked-around corner well over the bar. That’s how slow a death this half was. It picked up a bit after that, as Salah had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside following Milner and Firmino's blocked efforts, then Austin finally put a Southampton shot on-target, forcing a routine near post save from Alisson after Liverpool finally allowed a long ball over the top to find a recipient.

There was more action in the final five minutes of the half than the 40 which came before. And the only blemish in the half was van Dijk off with a knock in the 55th minute, further discomfort from a bruised rib against PSG, reportedly very much precautionary and very much not a real problem for next weekend.

So that’s that. The “easiest” match of the month going almost exactly as it should have. Sure, more goals would’ve been fun. Better finishing would’ve been fun. But, as always, it’s hard to complain about 3-0.

That’s now seven consecutive wins to start the season. Eight consecutive clean sheets at Anfield in the league. Southampton haven’t scored in a league match against Liverpool since March 2016, held without for five straight. That last Southampton league goal against Liverpool was scored by Sadio Mané.

Liverpool are good, in all areas of the pitch and in all phases of play, and Liverpool keep going. Again. And we’re all well aware how Liverpool can and will be even better.