Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised Saints for failing to recognise the achievements of returning players Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana.

The Reds boss felt that after the service the duo had given Saints that they deserved more recognition from the club, including in the official matchday programme.

Rodgers said he understood that Dejan Lovren would not receive that after just one season at St Mary’s, but believes Lallana and Lambert could have been treated better.

He said: “I thought he (Lovren) dealt with it really, really well. Obviously Sakho has been in the team through the winning run and it has been difficult for the players who haven't been able to perform.

“But they kept up the work in training and been very professional.

“Dejan has come off the bench and had to do a job for us in the last few games and played very, very well.

“I thought today, which was always going to be difficult for the likes of Dejan, I thought he dealt with it very well.

“Adam Lallana was outstanding. I was a wee bit disappointed for Adam, I've got to say.

“Adam was the captain here for two years, gave incredible service to Southampton and I know for a fact he could have left here a number of times and didn't.

“And to get the reception he got I thought was disappointing.

“I looked in the match programme and there was nothing relevant to his time here and all the time has been here since a boy.

“The likes of Rickie Lambert - great servants to here, incredible players that have got the club to where it is today. There was no mention of him, which I thought was sad.

“I can see Lovren because he was only here a year, but those two guys gave their heart and soul to Southampton and are big supporters of this club.

“They've moved to one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it is hard to deny a player that. I thought they could been given a wee bit more today.”

He added: “This is a fantastic club, this is a club which had to go to League One to grow again. It has really shown to be a top football club.

“But I thought those two guys were wonderful servants and it was a massive decision for them to come to Liverpool after everything they gave to this club.

“You go back to other clubs, as players, staff or whatever, they’ll always have something of appreciation for their former players but there was absolutely nothing on there on these two guys.

“For me that's a wee bit sad, for what they have given.

“They are two of the nicest boys, the best boys you could every come across. I was thinking of them today when I was looking at the programme before the game - everything they gave to this club to get them here today and there wasn’t a mention."