Southampton are beaten 0-3 by Everton at St Mary's thanks to a Romelu Lukakau brace and another from Ross Barkley

• Saints 0-3 Everton - in pictures >>

Ronald Koeman’s men followed up their opening day 2-2 draw at Newcastle with a 3-0 reverse in their first league game of this campaign St Mary’s.

Before kick-off Saints celebrated the life of former owner Markus Liebherr, five years after his passing, but they were second best for most of the match and now must switch their attentions back to the Europa League before a trip to Watford to search for three points.

Matt Targett found himself in the book after just six minutes of the game.

It was a sensible one to take for the team with Romelu Lukaku having stormed away and about to break into the area. The Saints left back slid in and took him out a yard outside the box on the top left corner.

Ross Barkley took the free kick but it clipped off the top of the wall and went over.

The tone of the opening stages of the game was already set with both teams looking comfortable on the ball, Saints having more pressure but Everton looking very dangerous with their pace and power on the break.

Sadio Mane almost got in for Saints on 12 minutes but as he caught the ball he had just reached the by-line and so his shot from a very tight angle went behind. Moments later Dusan Tadic had an effort charged down after Graziano Pelle guided a far post header back to him.

Targett was the next to have a go with a drilled shot from the left but Tim Howard saved at his near post.

The first big chance of the game fell to Saints on 22 minutes.

Pelle collected the ball on the left and slid a neat pass into the area and Mane. He controlled and fired low towards goal but Tim Howard saved.

It proved to be a pivotal moment as just seconds later Everton were ahead.

They broke quickly on the counter attack from the corner with Barkley feeding it to Arouna Kone.

He sprinted down the right and crossed to find Lukaku inadequately without a centre half near him, eight yards out in a central position and he headed back across goal and in via the underside of the bar.

Maarten Stekelenburg stood strong at his near post to beat away a shot from James McCarthy to stop it getting even worse for Saints.

They should have been further behind on 29 minutes as Lukaku squared the ball to Barkley on the penalty spot. His first time effort was only straight down the middle and Stekelenburg saved with his legs. The rebound came to Tom Cleverley but he sidefooted wide of the post with half of the goal gaping.

Victor Wanyama should have done better on 35 minutes as he had a free header from Steven Davis’ right wing corner but he was off target.

Pelle was the second man in the book for dragging back Seamus Coleman.

Everton were really in total control of the game and it was no great surprise they doubled their advantage a minute before half time.

They again cut through Saints so easily, Barkley robbing Maya Yoshida on the halfway line and pressing on through the middle and playing the ball to Lukaku whose first time finish from the edge of the area gave Stekelenburg no chance.

Saints made a half time change with Oriol Romeu replacing Tadic. Romeu slotted into a defensive central midfield role with Steven Davis pushing further forward.

Wanyama had another headed chance from a corner. This was one was tougher but again went wide.

Pelle had a half chance fall his way as the ball broke to him on the half volley but he fired it straight at Howard.

With a two goal lead to protect Everton were sitting much deeper in the second period and making themselves hard to break down.

Saints were struggling to create much but another corner provided another sighter for Pelle but he headed over from ten yards out.

Saints made an attacking change on 72 minutes with Jay Rodriguez coming on for Shane Long.

A piece of magic almost got Saints back into it as Mane tried a speculative effort from 25 yards out which was well struck and forced Howard to dive to his right to turn wide.

Saints made a final switch with James Ward-Prowse replacing Steven Davis while Steven Naismith came on for Kone for Everton.

The Toffees wrapped up the win with six minutes remaining by making it 3-0.

Everton worked the ball across the face of the area from the right all the way to Barkley on the other side. He took a touch to move inside onto his right foot and curled an unstoppable finish into the opposite top corner.

That pretty much rounded off a miserable day on the pitch for Saints who will be desperate to get three points on the board when they face Watford next Sunday following a return to Europa League action on Thursday night.