Southampton shared an eight-goal thriller with Liverpool as they bid farewell to the Premier League after an 11-year top-flight stay, bowing out with an enthralling 4-4 draw.
Saints’ fate was sealed way before the final day, their relegation confirmed two weeks ago, but were intent on departing with a bang, fighting back from two goals down before going 4-2 up in a bonkers, but brilliant, 90 minutes of football.
Liverpool raced into a two-goal lead inside 14 minutes thanks to strikes from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino – the latter marking his fond farewell from the club with goals in back-to-back fixtures, having also rescued a draw at Anfield against Aston Villa last time out.
James Ward-Prowse then reduced arrears in the 19th minute, benefiting from a neat interchange between Kamaldeen Sulemana and Charly Alcaraz on the edge of the box before sweeping past Liverpool’s deputy goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.
Sulemana was found by Theo Walcott nine minutes later, finishing low to deceive Kelleher, as a topsy-turvy game continued to swing in a multitude of directions before even reaching its midway point.
Saints started the brighter after the interval, stunning Liverpool with another Sulemana scalp – only his second goal since arriving in January – before Adam Armstrong found the net 49 seconds after entering the field from the substitute’s bench.
Cody Gakpo found requisite reply for the visitors in the 72nd minute, tapping home from a sumptuous Trent Alexander-Arnold volleyed cross, paving the way for Jota to have the final say less than 60 seconds later.
Source: Sky sports
In other news-Zim commits to consolidating historic relations with Nigeria
Vice President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga says the country will always look for ways to consolidate cordial relations between Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
The Vice President, who is representing President Emmerson Mnangagwa, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja this Sunday morning where he was received by Zimbabwe’s Envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Maxwell Ranga and other government officials.
He is accompanied by the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya. Learn more
