Shaqiri shines: Player ratings as Liverpool defeat Southampton 3-0

Liverpool made it six wins out of six in the Premier League after beating Southampton easily at Anfield.

The Reds defeated the Saints 3-0, thanks to goals from Wesley Hoedt (OG), Joel Matip and Mohamed Salah. All the goals came in the first half as Liverpool were dominant but Southampton did have a couple of good crosses before the break.

Xherdan Shaqiri was at the heart of everything good creatively for Liverpool but he was taken off at half-time.

The Swiss star was incredible for the Reds and he did a great job. Liverpool sit pretty on top of the Premier League table now and here are the player ratings from the game.

Alisson – 6.5/10

Alisson had one save to make in the game but dealt with some testing crosses well, as he kept another clean sheet.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10

The youngster had a decent enough game and put in some devilish crosses in the first half as Liverpool dominated early on.

Joel Matip – 7/10

Matip started for the first time this season and he did look slow a couple of times. Gave the ball away on one instance but scored the second of the game from a corner.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10

Van Dijk was excellent until a rib injury took him out in the second half. Hopefully, it isn’t a serious injury for the Dutchman.

Andy Robertson – 7/10

Robbo was another player who wasn’t tested much but rampaged to join the attack from time to time.

Jordan Henderson – 7/10

The captain wasn’t tested a lot and even made some lung-bursting runs down the line for the Reds.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 7.5/10

The Dutch midfielder was immense in the first half and kept things ticking in the heart of the park.

Xherdan Shaqiri – 8/10

What a first-half from the 26-year-old! Shaqiri created the first and third goals and was brilliant in his attacking midfielder’s role. The Swiss star was taken off at half-time but he could receive a start in the Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea midweek.

Mohamed Salah – 7/10

Salah finally scored but it came off a wicked Shaqiri free-kick that cannoned off the bar. The Egyptian should have scored a second or even a third but the linesman ruled one chance offside.

Sadio Mane – 7/10

The former Saint was difficult to deal with but was unlucky not to have scored after a few quality breaks on the counter.

Roberto Firmino – 7/10

Firmino had his chances to score but he did his regular bit of running around and creating havoc without exerting himself much.

Substitutes

James Milner – 7/10

Another game, another decent performance from the Englishman as he was brought on at half-time for Shaqiri.

Joe Gomez – 7/10

Van Dijk’s replacement came on and did a stellar job at keeping the Saints out.

Read more: Barcelona interested in swooping for Liverpool’s 26-year-old Spanish star

Naby Keita – NA

The former Leipzig man came on in the second half but didn’t do much despite having close to 20 minutes on the pitch.