Ronald Koeman was refusing to rule out catching Liverpool in the final weeks of the season, but admitted Saints’ recent away form is causing them problems in the race for Europe.

Defeat at relegation haunted Sunderland made it three consecutive Premier League away day defeats for Saints, and four from five.

They have not won on the road since they beat QPR nearly three months ago and have two further chances to put that right this season, against Leicester next weekend and Manchester City on the final day.

The loss to Sunderland left them four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, with eighth-placed Swansea also closing the gap below to four points.

Koeman said: “We know Liverpool don’t win all the games and you know it’s three games to play until the end of the season.

“It is the fourth in a row away and that makes it more difficult.”

Daily Echo:

Ronald Koeman surveying the scene at the Stadium of Light

It was an uncharacteristic display from Saints at the Stadium of Light.

They were very flat and struggled to really get their passing game going against a clearly nervy and vulnerable opponent.

In the end they paid the price.

Koeman was at a bit of a loss to explain what happened.

“In my opinion it’s not about spirit, about ambition,” he reflected.

“My criticism to the players is not about what they do and what they try to do, my criticism today is about our level in our ball possession.

“Normally it’s much better than today and that was the reason and not the referee.

“Sunderland put everything in because that’s normal in the situation they are in but I expect much more of the team than we saw.”

Daily Echo:

Jordi Gomez converts his second penalty, sending Saints to another away defeat

Koeman did feel that Saints got something going in the second half, but not until they were down to ten men after James Ward-Prowse was sent off and losing 2-1.

“Yes, that’s true (Saints were flat),” admitted Koeman.

“I think we didn’t reach our level. Frustrated about that.

“It’s strange that with one player less on the pitch we showed our football and our qualities and before not.

“I think we had too much mistakes in our ball possession.

“The first ten minutes after half-time was very poor and out of one of those situations came the penalty, the red card, and then you know it’s difficult.

“That’s so strange and sometimes understandable that the reaction then is with one player less that we were the better team and the dominating team and that’s difficult to understand.”