Liverpool are looking for their 6th straight league win, and a 7th consecutive competitive victory at the start of this 2018/19 season.
The reds were well worth their mid-week Champions League victory over France's top club, PSG but have generally suffered with form after European fixtures.
The reds who are currently 2nd on goal difference alone, will be aiming to return to the top of the Premier League with victory today at Anfield - leaders Chelsea travel to West Ham tomorrow afternoon.
The reds made two changes in midweek with Sturridge and Henderson starting in place of Firmino and Keita, but these two changes could be reversed for this afternoon's fixtures.
Coming up in the week ahead are two clashes against Chelsea - one in the League Cup and one in the Premier League.
Here's what happened in the game
As it happened...
Liverpool completed a Premier League double over Southampton in 2017/18 - but the season before both games ended in a draw.
In January 2017, Southampton had enough about them to end Liverpool's hopes of reaching the League Cup final. They beat the reds 1-0 in each leg of the semi-final that season.
So far this season the Saints have had two draws, two narrow one goal defeats but did beat Crystal Palace 2-0 away from home.
Changes in defence, midfield and attack.
Matip replaces Gomez, Shaqiri is in for Milner and Firmino returns, replacing Sturridge.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Sturridge, Moreno.
No Danny Ings for the Saints, as he is ineligible as he is on-loan from Liverpool until the end of the season when Southampton will complete the purchase.
While we're waiting for the reds to kick off it's a rare occasion that both Manchester United and Man City are also in action in the 3pm kick offs.
Spurs play at 5:30 p.m.
If Liverpool draw today then a win for Man City away at Cardiff will be enough to take them above Liverpool in the league. Cardiff are yet to win in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool players are going through their pre-match routines on the pitch.
Going to be an intruiging test for Matip and Shaqiri who quite clearly have started the season just outside the preferred starting XI. They will want to make sure they impress.
Shaqiri in particular has been full of hustle and bustle in his substitute appearances, but playing from the start, are we going to see a more measured approach from the Swiss international?
Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn is at Anfield today. His party, the Labour Party, holds their conference in the city this week.
Labour leader @jeremycorbyn lays a wreath at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/gmxvz7wgbO
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) September 22, 2018
Underway at Anfield
Liverpool kicking towards the Anfield Road end.
Mo Salah taking a more central position in these opening moments of the game.
4' Shaqiri is fed the ball down the right wing, he crossed it in to the box but Firmino's header goes wide.
6' Matip drills a pass in powerfully to Firmino. Think the weight of the pass took him by surprise. He gets it away but Salah can't control it.
Early domination from Liverpool in this game. Men behind the ball for Southampton.
9' Good ball in from the left wing by Matt Targett, van Dijk called into action to concede a corner as Shane Long was right in front of goal at the 6 yard box.
Reds clear the corner.
9' Vestergaard has to rise high to head away - great ball by Mane that would have fell to Salah. Vestergaard is effectively van Dijk's replacement at Southampton.
10' It's an own goal by Southampton. Mane finds Shaqiri - his shot hits what looks like an arm and then it's off Wesley Hoedt's foot and into the net.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21' Salah one two with Firmino, and Salah in front of the penalty spot about to pull the trigger... but CEDRIC SOARES with a great tackle.
21' Corner ball for the reds after Cedric Soares' tackle and Matip's by the penalty spot, it's a great cross in and he heads it in.
2-0.
27' Over half way through just this first half already and Liverpool looking comfortable at 2-0 up.
Looks like a sizeable task in front of Southampton but they are trying to work an opening. Hojbjerg with a shot that is blocked by van Dijk.
28' Close for Southampton.
Cross in from the right wing by Redmond - Alexander-Arnold helps put the ball behind for a corner but it comes to nothing for the visitors.
34' Oriel Romeu gets a yellow for Southampton for a bad challenge in the middle of the pitch.
37' Shaqiri's turn to take a corner (Alexander-Arnold provided the assist for Matip's goal). His corner is a left footed inswinger and it's cleared.
43' Salah goes close with a backheel.
45+3 Shaqiri with a wonderful free-kick - had it gone over? Well Salah made sure by firing over.
3-0.
And that's half time.
Liverpool scoring at the very end of that half. Technically two assists for Shaqiri who forced the own goal with his ball inside the area.
It's looking good.
We're underway and there's been an LFC change.
Xherdan Shaqiri heads off to be replaced by James Milner.
Seems like a tactical change.
Suggestions that Shaqiri took that big tackle for the yellow card and he was taken off as a precaution.
Being 3-0 up at half time certainly allows for that kind of change.
Virgil van Dijk appears to be struggling. He's gone down on the ground. Joe Gomez warming up.
54' Joe Gomez is on for Virgil van Dijk.
55' Matt Targett and Oriel Romeu off. Stuart Armstorong and Jan Bednarek on. They've switched to a back three.
Lemina picks up a yellow card for the visitors.
62' Great ball in by Alexander Arnold and it needed a great defensive header there to stop Mane from making it 4-0.
Both van Dijk and Shaqiri are on the LFC bench watching this second half which suggests that neither's injury/knock is particularly serious.
Good news.
70' Naby Keita comes on to replace Gini Wijnaldum.
Daniel Sturridge had been preparing to come on before the van Dik substition forced the manager to alter his plans for the rest of this game.
78' Charlie Austin comes on for Shane Long. Been a disappointing day for the Southampton striker. How they miss Danny Ings.
81' Pedestrian game now. Southampton resigned to their fate and those three changes for Liverpool mean this is effectively a training exercise.
Big games coming up and the reds not exerting themselves too much with this 3-0 lead.
85' Well worked move for the reds. Salah flicks a ball over, it's headed away by Southampton to the edge of the box and Andy Robertson hits the volley a little bit too early. That's gone over the bar.
Great opportunity for the Scotland captain.
88' Joe Gomez has looked hugely impressive since he came on to replace van Dijk. He sorts out a long ball upfield from Southampton with ease.
89' James Milner has two shots inside the area. First is blocked. Second appears to rebound off a Southampton defender and Mo Salah fires in.
But it's ruled offside. It was a bit of a melee. Salah looks disappointed.
90+1: Two minutes added time to be played. Alisson with his first save of the game from Charlie Austin.
90+2 Offside flag up again for Mo Salah.
It's all over.
Liverpool 3-0 Southampton.
Liverpool go back to the top of the Premier League.
7th consecutive win this season. 6 of them in the Premier League. 8 consecutive clean sheets at Anfield. Back on top of the league.
Thanks for joining us.
A great win for Liverpool who are back on top of the Premier League.
Post match comments coming up shortly.
