Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino asserted the “biggest defeat”  his side suffered in their misfortune to Liverpool was “the character we appeared in the second half”.

Liverpool moved to inside two points of second-put Manchester United after goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah secured an agreeable triumph.

Brazil forward Firmino gave Liverpool an early lead with his twentieth goal of the season when he completed off a counter attack subsequent to being teed up by Salah.

Southampton at that point twice brought saves out of the Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius, before Liverpool scored a second through Salah after he traded passes with Firmino.

It was the Egypt international’s 29th goal of the season for the club from 36 appearances.

Liverpool looked the more inclined to score again after half-time as Southampton once in a while undermined.

 

The win ensured Liverpool exploited Manchester United’s 1-0 overcome by Newcastle prior on Sunday and jumped Tottenham again into third place.

Southampton drop into the relegation zone, a point behind Huddersfield who beat Bournemouth 4-1, with encourage examination of Pellegrino’s position likely.