Liverpool manager JurgenKlopp took a big gamble to rest his big players for the Premier League trip to Southampton earlier this week in a rescheduled game, but it didn’t backfire on him after the fringe players came from behind to beat the Saints 2-1 in front of their home fans to move within one point of leaders Manchester City.

Some of the big Liverpool stars rested for the game include Spanish international Thiago Alcantara, Virgil Van Dijk, leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The likes of Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson were on the bench at the start of the game.

The fringe players suffered a huge setback when they lost the first goal of the game to Southampton courtesy England international Nathan Redmond. They were able to pick themselves up from the setback caused by the 13^th minute strike from the aforementioned Redmond. Japanese international Takumi Minamino has scored a lot of important goals for Liverpool this season especially in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season and he was responsible for the equaliser on 27 minutes. The goal from Minamino ensured that Liverpool didn’t go into the half-time break with a deficit. In the second half, Liverpool raised their game and they were rewarded with the winning goal of the game from Joel Matip. The Cameroonian defender scored midway into the second half to make it two goals in two straight league games and hand the three points to his team.

With the comeback win over  the Saints, Liverpool were able to take the title race into the final day of the season. The away win over Southampton reduced their deficit from four points to one point. On the final day of the season, Both Manchester City and Liverpool are at home to Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.