Dismal Reds crash on the coast

An early goal from Prutton after four minutes gave the Saints the impetus to gain three points from a match which should surely have been seen by Rafa Benitez as a must win game.

And a second goal from tall man Peter Crouch gave the Saints a comfortable cushion which Liverpool rarely looked like closing in on.

The below par performance from the Reds was typified in Luis Garcias continued poor form, which saw pass after pass go astray, with little link up between the team as a whole.

Worries must now be taken seriously that the Reds will leave an unsurmountable amount of work to be done in the latter stages of the season, which could well keep Champions League football away from Anfield next season, and see the inevitable departure of captain Gerrard.