Concerned Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino admitted his team are in a “difficult moment” after they were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Liverpool.

Saints started the game fairly well, but were never in it once Mo Salah scored his second of the game during the first half.

A lacklustre reaction left Saints defeated again and in a run of just one win in their last seven matches.

Pellegrino said: “For sure it’s not good news for us and we know we are in a difficult moment and now we have to react because every team is really difficult.

“The difference between the group of teams we are is really tight.

“We have to try to react and to show our best face next week.”

Pellegrino had been optimistic ahead of the trip to Anfield, but that proved to be misplaced.

“I think we started well the first half an hour because we were pressing more or less ok, well organised and we make a couple of counter attacks,” he reflected.

“After we make a couple of mistakes that against this type of team you cannot because they have got quality in front and they don’t need too many chances to score.

“After the second goal it was really difficult for us to come back into the game.

“We tried to change some players, to change positionally and even our style playing more direct with Shane or Charlie but we never create this chance to try to score and be in the game.”