A Dejan Lovren header was enough to clinch all three points for the visitors as the Reds struggled to find any fluency in a game that they were tipped to win.

Southampton's game plan worked perfectly for manager Mauricio Pochettino, while Reds boss Brendan Rodgers failed to find any answers from his players and get back into the game.

Below, Sports Mole has looked back over the 90 minutes that unfolded in the league encounter.

Match statistics:

Liverpool:
Shots 10
On target 5
Possession 56%
Corners 6
Fouls 6

Southampton:
Shots 12
On target 7
Possession 44%
Corners 6
Fouls 9

Was the result fair?

In short, yes. Southampton's approach to the game in the first half prevented Liverpool from causing any real damage, and they were also able to soak up pressure when the Reds were on the attack in the second half, while still causing problems on the break. For Liverpool, they were unable to create any realistic chances on goal and ran out of ideas as the match progressed.

Liverpool's performance

In four of the Reds' previous games, Rodgers's side have been on the front foot and nabbed a goal, allowing themselves to sit back in the second half and hold onto their lead for the win. Today, the Merseyside outfit struggled to find any real fluency, and this was largely down to the fact that they had four centre-backs in defence - Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure. Even when Jose Enrique was brought on in the second half, Liverpool continued to make sloppy passes.

Southampton's performance

The Saints were disciplined and organised from the start, but also had an attacking flare going forward, which Liverpool's backline struggled to handle at times. If it wasn't for some poor final efforts, you could argue that Southampton should have won by more. They were under pressure at times in the second half following Lovren's goal, but they still posed a threat down the other end of the field.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Adam Lallana: Despite being substituted around 20 minutes before the end of the match, Lallana showed a real captain's performance for Southampton in the first half. He created chances and managed to give Liverpool some trouble with some impressive link-up play with his teammates.

Biggest gaffe

This would have to go to Rickie Lambert. He may have finished the match on the winning side, but he could have given them a nice one-goal cushion in the first half. The ball kindly fell to the striker just a few feet away from goal, but his left-footed volley was easily collected by Simon Mignolet.

Referee performance

Neil Swarbrick issued only one yellow card during the match, but his performance will largely be remembered - by Liverpool fans at least - for failing to award the home side a penalty. Daniel Sturridge was at the end of a clumsy challenge from Lovren, who stuck his foot out as the striker drove into the box. Replays showed that there was contact, but the match official waved it away.

What next?

Liverpool: The Reds have a League Cup third-round tie against arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but they return to Premier League commitments on Sunday with a visit to Sunderland.

Southampton: The Saints take on Bristol City in the League Cup before welcoming Crystal Palace to St Mary's Stadium in the Premier League next Saturday.