Daily Echo:

Saints’ poor form extended to one win in seven as their tough run of fixtures started with a 3-0 defeat at Anfield.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side were well beaten by Liverpool, who triumphed via two first half goals from Mo Salah, and one in the second period from Philippe Coutinho, while Saints failed to register a shot on target during the 90 minutes.

The defeat leaves Saints staring at a vital looking home game against Everton up next in which they need three points to ease the nerves as they begin to look over their shoulders during a run which sees them play all of the Premier League’s top six.

Saints had an immediate concern as Dusan Tadic went down injured inside the first minute, but after treatment he was able to continue.

It was an interesting start to the game tactically, with both sides prepared to press high up the field when they had the chance, but were also content to sit in deep to defend.

Liverpool caused a bit of panic in the Saints backline on nine minutes as a deflected shot found Trent Alexander-Arnold. Virgil van Dijk did enough to ensure he couldn’t make proper contact. After Fraser Forster had failed to hold a tough loose ball Mohamed Salah’s shot was blocked.

Moments later Salah had the chance to shoot on the turn but missed the target.

For all Saints’ defensive work, they were still vulnerable to Liverpool’s attacking pressure and Forster had to make two saves in the space of a minute.

First he dived to his right to push away a shot from Geroginio Wijnaldum from outside the area.

Philippe Coutinho was the next to test him with a low drive form 20 yards that required a much better stop to turn wide.

The Brazilian midfielder had the chance to shoot again with a free kick 25 yards out in a decent position, but blazed well over the bar.

Eventually the pressure told as Liverpool took the lead on 31 minutes.

It came in part due to a Saints error as Virgil van Dijk headed a corner clear to the edge of the box where Tadic picked up the loose ball.

He dwelt on it a little too long as he drifted back across the face of the box and was robbed by Robert Firmino.

A few quick passes later the ball was at the feet of Salah just outside the area on the right hand side, and he measured a perfect curling left footed finish that bent inside the far post for 1-0.

Saints put Simon Mignolet under pressure for the first time on 39 minutes as Cedric Soares got in a cross from the right which the Liverpool keeper had to punch away with Sofiane Boufal challenging for the ball.

Things got worse for Saints on 41 minutes as Liverpool doubled their lead.

Coutinho was the provider with a pass that split the Saints defence and Salah was again the finisher. He produced a darting run in front of Ryan Bertrand and behind Wesley Hoedt and chipped a lovely first time past Forster from just outside the six yard box for 2-0.

Bertrand went close with a free kick that went over the wall but wide of the target before half time but at the break Saints had it all to do if they were to get anything from the game.

Boufal had the first real effort of the second period but from a difficult angle it went well over the bar.

The Moroccan was in action again on 51 minutes, trying to work space in the area to get in a shot only to see Dejan Lovren make a sliding block when he did get an effort away.

It was still Liverpool who looked the more dangerous and Forster had to save with his legs to keep out Firmino after another incisive Coutinho through ball.

Pellegrino made his first change on 55 minutes with Charlie Austin replacing Tadic and going through the middle with Shane Long dropping out to wide right role.

Alberto Moreno was blocked out by the back tracking Nathan Redmond as he tried to turn inside in the area rather than shooting first time after another defence splitting pass.

Oriol Romeu picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Firmino, which was his fifth of the season meaning he will be suspended for the game against Everton.

Coutinho came close again as Liverpool continued to threaten a third but his shot went narrowly wide.

There was no stopping the Brazilian from finally getting on the scoresheet on 68 minutes.

Mane found Firmino with a lovely cut back pass, with the striker’s shot cannoning back off of the body of Forster. It fell to Coutinho who calmly sidefooted home.

It was his last action as he was immediately replaced by Emre Can with James Ward-Prowse also coming on for Boufal.

Austin had a sight of goal from Ward-Prowse’s inswinging free kick but headed wide.

Liverpool made a second switch on 74 minutes with former Saints star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Mane.

Saints had a final roll of the dice on 79 minutes with Manolo Gabbiadini coming on for Long before James Milner replaced Salah.

Firmino had come close a few times already and clearly fancied a goal but his turn and shot across goal went just wide of the far post.

Can tried to make something happen late on with a surging run but his cross just drifted away and behind.

The fourth official held up the board to show three minutes of added time and Virgil van Dijk made a timely intervention in the area to prevent a possible fourth Liverpool goal after Oxlade-Chamberlain had got the ball off of Redmond and got in a cross towards Firmino.

When the final whistle came it was a welcome relief to Saints, who had long since been well beaten and now face the challenge of picking themselves up before a big home game against Everton they really need to win.