Southampton were deserved winners as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers selected 4 centre-backs for the reds, a tactical error unhelped by disappointing effort from the rest of the Liverpool side.
With Coutinho missing, Iago Aspas was chosen to operate as an attacker with Sturridge and Moses, but the Spaniard offered little and was hauled off at half time.
Liverpool's midfield threesome of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson were lethargic and were easily overrun by a Saints side more determined and seemingly more skilled than the Liverpool side.
Liverpool had begun the day at the top of the league but ended the weekend back in 5th spot - with Everton now the only Merseyside side unbeaten this season.
It was Dejan Lovren who grabbed Southampton's deserved goal early in the second half.
YET AGAIN Liverpool conceding from a corner, as Lovren outjumped Daniel Agger to head home.
Brendan Rodgers, more than a year into the job, has still to have any effect on Liverpool's defensive ability from set pieces. Much more work will need to be done on the training field than merely purchasing bigger defenders.
Saints continued to keep Mignolet busy as Southampton offered far more threat on the counter-attack.
By the end of the game, the four centre-backs had been substituted into the correct number of two. Luis Alberto came on for a brief cameo, but by then the reds had been worn down by Southampton's effort and the final few minutes were easy for the Saints to secure their 5th win in their last 7 league games against Liverpool.
Liverpool move on to a League Cup game against Manchester United - with the possibility of a Luis Suarez return on the cards.
It beggars belief that Liverpool played a deep defensive line at home while Southampton played a pressing game away form home.
Fair play to Southampton for ambition, but there is nothing encouraging to say for our manager who selected tactics and players aimed at not conceding.
Someone said before the game looks like Rodgers has picked a side to make sure we play in the 1st half the way we have played in the 2nd half of games this season. It was pretty much on the ball.
We were awful, handed Southampton the advantage and had no plan B when plan A failed.
Until Liverpool play a higher defensive line and put pressure on the opponents in their half of the pitch, it wont make any difference who Rodgers selects.
Surely the 1st halfs against Stoke, the Mancs and Villa proved the way to play was to press the opposition, so why insist that we play so deep?
I felt sorry for Gerrard and Lucas who had so much ground to make up to support the attack after playing so far back. I’ve never seen Gerrard look so exhausted with 15 minutes to go.
Come on Rodgers, play a pressing game – even if we lose the match at least we can give it a go – its better than the damp squib of a game we were unfortunate to attend on Saturday.
Liverpool threw away 6 points, against swansea and southampton. both games were there for the taking, could have wrapped up the victory in the first half for both. They just proved that it was luck all along, not desire, not progress, but just luck that got them top of the table for a few weeks. the team does not deserve suarez.