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.