Liverpool may be second as they enter the home straight, but manager Brendan Rodgers remains quick to downplay talk of a first league title since 1990. Just four points separate leaders Chelsea and the in-form Reds, who usurped Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League standings with their 3-0 victory at Saints. Saints are now one of only two clubs in the Premier League to have conceded more home goals this season than away ones – they have let in 19 at home compared to only 16 away.

West Ham are the other club, with 20 home goals conceded and only 15 away.

Saints have now lost four home league games this season and conceded three in all of them – to Aston Villa, Tottenham, Chelsea and now Liverpool.

The result extended the Merseysiders' winning streak to four matches in the league, while they remain unbeaten in this calendar year – yet manager Rodgers, below, remains keen to avoid talk of the title. “I'm not focusing on that, to be honest,” the Reds boss said. “I'm focusing on winning the next game. “We've had an outstanding performance today, a really significant performance against a very, very good side with an excellent manager. “The players were tactically brilliant and we scored three and maybe could have had another five or six goals. “We always knew this would be a really difficult game today. “They have scored in all-but two games here, have some real good players and have an excellent manager. “So for us to come and play like we did today and find a solution to nullify that threat was impressive.”