Champions League

THIS is the moment Liverpool stars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah were separated after an apparent spat in training.Salah was filmed walking towards his team-mate before giving him a small push in the seemingly light-hearted moment.Liverpool stars Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold were pulled apart after a light-hearted exchange in trainingCredit: PASalah appeared to find it hilariousAlexander-Arnold had no problem with Salah after the exchangeCredit: PAThe winger couldn’t help but smile as the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones played peacemakers.Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold kept the exchange going all the way over to the training pitch.Sources close to the club have since confirmed that it was all a bit of fun, as per the Liverpool Echo.The duo were later seen laughing and joking around the training complex.Read More in FootballLiverpool currently lead the Premier League table, 15 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with nine games left to play.They have a huge week ahead, with the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.The Reds then face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.Arne Slot insists his team will have to give their best performance of the season to beat PSG in the Champions League, despite having a 1-0 advantage.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsHe said: “Of course, we’ve faced Arsenal and Manchester City. It’s not that there are big margins, but the intensity [PSG] played at combined with the quality they have – let’s be honest, we are talking about the richest club – so they have so much quality and a great manager because he brings the best out of every player.”He brings incredible work rate in the team, so that’s why I think we need to be at our best tomorrow.Liverpool manager Arne Slot says his team were ‘lucky’ to beat PSG “I wasn’t surprised at all about [PSG’s] performance. They’ve impressed me a lot. Before the game last week, I watched a lot of their games and I was really impressed with the intensity they play at, the team cohesion, the rotations in the midfield.”They are such a complete team, such a well-managed team and we experienced that last Wednesday. Some people said we played poor, I don’t agree. I think they played tremendously well.”I don’t think we’ve faced this season a team that combines that quality with that much intensity but I do think we can do better.”I’m not saying we play poor or not good at all but we are a better team than we were last week, and that’s something we have to prove tomorrow with the help of our fans.” More

DARWIN Nunez and VAR were the controversial heroes as Liverpool moved 16 points clear at the top of the table.The fiery Uruguayan striker escaped a red card by the skin of his teeth in first-half stoppage time shortly after Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk had gifted Southampton the lead.Darwin Nunez sparked Liverpool’s comeback against SouthamptonCredit: AFPHe was lucky not to be sent off in the first halfCredit: ReutersWill Smallbone gave Southampton an unlikely lead at AnfieldCredit: PAArne Slot had to watch on from the stands due to his pitchside banCredit: PAMohamed Salah netted a penalty to put Liverpool aheadCredit: GettyHe then struck again from the spot to seal the winCredit: RexJust as in Paris on Wednesday night, when Ibrahima Konate was lucky not to be sent off before the Reds stole victory, VAR gave Arne Slot’s men a mighty let-off – and then a final helping hand.Wthin nine minutes of the restart Nunez had completely turned the game.First he turned in Luis Diaz’s cross, then he tempted Saints goalscorer Will Smallbone into a rash challenge in the box.Mo Salah, Mr Reliable to Nunez’s Captain Chaos, scored from the spot.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd Salah stepped up to convert another penalty when VAR Matt Donohoe told referee Lewis Smith to look at Southampton substitute Yukinai Sugawara’s handball in the box.Kop boss Arne Slot was watching from the stands again as he served the second-match of his ban for his comments to referee Michael Oliver after the Merseyside derby.After warning the experienced Oliver that he would blame him if his side failed to win the title, Slot had cause to be grateful to rookie officials.Smith was refereeing his seventh Premier League game and Donohue had only taken charge of two top-flight games himself.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt won’t only be Arsenal fans wondering if Liverpool’s name is on the trophy after this.Liverpool ended a frustrating first half by conceding a ridiculous goal and they could – perhaps should – have been a man down, too.Max Fosh tries SHREDDING yellow card after being booked by ex-Premier League ref in Sidemen vs YouTube All Stars clashSmallbone turned hero to villain as he gave away a penaltyCredit: ReutersSlot was much happier after the full time whistleCredit: RexIf VAR had asked referee Lewis to have another look at Darwin Nunez’s wild kick on Walker-Peters, he would have been well within his rights to dismiss the Reds striker.It would have been an awful end to a half that had threatened to begin so well for the runaway league leaders.Curtis Jones had a shot blocked inside the first minute and should have hit the target with a very presentable chance before there were six on the clock.Southampton barely left their half in the opening 20 minutes and then lost captain Jan Bednarek following a clash of heads with his own full back Ryan Manning.Yet the visitors immediately enjoyed a good spell, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Mateus Fernandes asking Alisson to make the first saves of the match.Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Trent Alexander-Arnold from a narrow angle and Nunez failed to test him with a turn and shot.Liverpool returned to dominating possession and territory yet could not move the ball quickly enough to create really clear-cut openings.The Saints were also defending well, throwing their bodies into blocking shots and crosses. Manning was particularly committed.And the visitors’ refusal to fit into the narrative of a comfortable Liverpool win was rewarded in stoppage-time.As Van Dijk tried to shepherd the ball back to Alisson with Smallbone on his back, the Liverpool players got in each other’s way. In the resulting confusion Smallbone tucked the ball neatly under the Reds’ keeper and into the net.There was still time for Nunez’s lucky escape. The way he brought down Walker-Peters was not an attempt to play the ball, it was a petulant kick. Violent conduct, in other words..VAR took a long hard look but then decided that Lewis’ initial verdict of yellow card was not so outrageous that it needed correcting.It was not much of a shock that Slot made a triple change at the break.The big surprise was Nunez not being one of those to make way.Harvey Elliott almost repeated his incredible entrance to proceedings at the Parc des Princes when he fired in a shot, only for Ramsdale to make an excellent stop.And Slot’s faith in the Uruguayan was soon justified in spectacular style. Luis Diaz made a fabulous run down the left, beating Walker-Peters and pulling it back from the byline.And there was Nunez to tuck in a neat striker’s finish.Unbelievably, Liverpool’s No.9 then turned provider. Smallbone’s challenge on Nunez was clumsy and probably unnecessary. Lewis pointed to the spot and Salah beat Ramsdale’s dive with an excellent penalty.Southampton were understandably deflated. Boss Ivan Juric tried to breathe new life into them by making a double change, bringing on Yukinari Sugawara and Cameron Archer for the ineffective Tyler Dibling and Albert Gronbaek.Liverpool looked as if they were happy to play the game out for a single-goal victory and conserve energy for the PSG return on Tuesday.But they were warned it was a bad idea when Archer escaped and Alisson had to make a decent stop.At the other end Salah fluffed an excellent chance to kill off the game and you wondered whether it would prove costly.Elliott shot wide but little else happened until Juric rolled the dice by throwing on big Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo.Instead, VAR and Salah settled the game.Diaz did well, put pressure on Sugawara but arguably pushed him before the Japanese international moved the ball out of his reach with his arm.Donohue summoned Smith to the monitor and the verdict was penalty.Salah scored again.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere was still time for Liverpool sub Jarell Quansah to pull back Walker-Peters and not be penalised.But Arsenal and the rest are running out of road to halt the Reds juggernaut as it chugs towards the title.Yukinari Sugawara handled the ball in a jostle with Luis DiazCredit: AFPReferee Lewis Smith gave the penalty after being sent to the screen by VARCredit: PA More