Liverpool failed to keep intact their lead at the top of the Premier League table as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.
The Reds had the better of the rare chances across the 90 minutes, with Saints stopper Fraser Forster producing two solid saves to earn his side a share of the points.
Charlie Austin headed wide from the Saints' only attempt of any note, in what was an impressive defensive display from the hosts to keep out the division's top-scoring side.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium. The Reds started the day at the top of the table after making their best start to a season in eight years, but the top four sides are separated by just a couple of points so the pressure is on to keep this impressive run going.
It has been more of a mixed start to life under Claude Puel for the Saints, meanwhile, as they sit exactly midway in the division after seeing their momentum come to a halt prior to the international break with successive defeats. That is not to say it has been a bad campaign for the South Coast side, though, as they are well on course to progressing into the knockout stages of the Europa League and are into the last eight of the EFL Cup.
TEAM NEWS!
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Boufal, Austin, Redmond
LIVERPOOL XI: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino
Let us start by checking out the visiting side's starting lineup, where the big news is that Philippe Coutinho is declared fit to start for the Reds. That really is a major boost for Jurgen Klopp, who had been left sweating over the Brazilian ace's fitness after he picked up a hamstring injury during the two-week international break. To emphasise that point about how vital he is, the ex-Inter Milan midfielder has scored three in his last four visits here alone.
There is some disappointment for the Reds, though, as Adam Lallana has failed to shake off the injury he sustained while away on international duty with England, meaning that Georginio Wijnaldum comes into the midfield ranks on the back of his first goal for the club in the thrashing of Watford. Dejan Lovren, another doubt for today's game due to a recent virus, is the other player to come in from last time out as Klopp makes two changes in all.
Lovren will of course be facing off against his former side this afternoon, as will Sadio Mane who has taken Anfield by storm since joining in a £34m summer move. The Senegalese will make his first appearance against the Saints since making the big-money switch - one of many to make the move from the South Coast to Merseyside in recent years to give this game a real edge. Elsewhere in the Reds' lineup, Emre Can makes his 100th appearance for the club.
Switching attention to the home side's ranks now, and Puel has handed a first Premier League start to club-record signing Sofiane Boufal. It has been a slow start to life at St Mary's for the summer recruit, but he has slowly been ushered back to full fitness and is now given a chance to show what he can do in the English top flight. Nathan Redmond and Charlie Austin are also named in attack, in what is a strong-looking Saints lineup.
As well as having Boufal in their ranks, Southampton can call upon Cedric Soares at full-back after seeing him shake off a recent knock. James Ward-Prowse, Ryan Bertrand and Shane Long were the other doubts heading into this clash, but only the former of the three misses out on the matchday squad altogether. Bertrand returns to left-back with Sam McQueen dropping out of the squad, while Long is among the subs.
There is one major absentee from the Southampton starting lineup, however, as Dusan Tadic - who was tipped to start despite breaking his nose against Wales a week ago - is nowhere to be seen. Maya Yoshida and Jordy Clasie are the two players to drop out of the side from the defeat to Hull City a fortnight ago, with Soares and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg returning to the first-team fold.
BENCH WATCH!
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Taylor, Yoshida, Clasie, Long, Rodriguez, Martina, Reed
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Lucas, Grujic, Origi, Sturridge
Both managers forced into making changes this afternoon, then, with Southampton and Liverpool having to make do without key midfield talents; Dusan Tadic breaking his nose while away on international duty with Serbia, while Adam Lallana tweaked a troublesome problem and is also declared unfit to feature today. Philippe Coutinho is among the Reds' starters, though, and the Saints can call upon Sofiane Boufal - his first Premier League start.
Another huge weekend of Premier League football to look forward to, then, and in Liverpool's case it looks set to get off to a near-perfect start as Arsenal are on course top drop a couple of points in their meeting with Manchester United. A draw at Old Trafford is hardly the worst result, but it means that victory for the Reds this afternoon and they will extend their advantage over the Gunners with 12 games of the season played.
For the first time since May 2014 Liverpool top the Premier League pile, which they will now be determined to ensure remains the case until the end of the season. With so little between the teams at the top that is unlikely to be the case, of course, with the likes of Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal no doubt likely to take it in turns to climb to the summit. It is the Reds who have control of things at the moment, though, thanks to their best start to a season in nearly a decade.
It really has been an incredible start to Klopp's first full season at Anfield, with Liverpool dropping just seven points across their first 11 league games. Arsenal are now one point behind following the conclusion of their early kickoff with Man United - a 1-1 draw - while Chelsea are also one adrift and Man City two. The onus is on the Reds to fend off the chasing pack, as they aim to extend this unbeaten run that stands at 12 games in all competitions.
Of those 12 unbeaten games, the Reds have won 10 of them - usually by a significant margin, too, as their thrashing of Watford prior to the international break went a long way to showing. Chelsea may just about be the division's most in-form side, scoring goals aplenty and remaining tight at the back, but Liverpool have been the most consistent since week one and well and truly deserve their place at the summit as we fast approach the hectic Christmas and New Year schedule.
Klopp's only disappointment over their last couple of months was the goalless draw with Man United - one of just two times this term that the Reds have failed to find the net in a league game; the other being a disappointing opening away game at Burnley back in August. Liverpool are also into the last eight of the EFL Cup, where they have a nice home tie against Championship side Leeds United to look forward to later this month, but they also have no European football to content with this term which is proving to be an almighty positive.
As touched upon a little earlier, this has been the Merseyside outfit's best start to a league campaign since 2009-09 when they also had 26 points from their first 11 games. Not since 2002-03 have they made a better start, when collecting one point more over the same timeframe in a campaign that saw them fall short after failing to keep the pace across the whole 10 months of the campaign.
Liverpool have showed plenty of character this term, too, having recovered from a losing position six times - more than any other team in the division. Interestingly, today's opponents Southampton have the worst record in the top flight when it comes to sustaining leads, with eight points slipping out of their reach after edging ahead in a game - including last time out when somehow coming unstuck against Hull City in a game that they dominated throughout.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Southampton ended a four-game winless run against Liverpool with a 3-2 win in March. The Saints had previously drawn one and lost three of their Premier League meetings, although it is worth mentioning that the Reds did win 6-1 here in the League Cup last season en route to the final - a match that would signal things to come for this fluid side under Klopp's management.
Jurgen Klopp has helped Liverpool to their best Premier League start in eight years, but it must be remembered that the Reds have been in similar positions before. The Reds famously had one hand on the title a few years back before somehow slipping off the pace and allowing Man City to pounce; a campaign now best remembered for Steven Gerrard's slip against Chelsea to open the title race back up with less than a handful of games to play.
Plenty of focus on the visitors this afternoon, then, but it will certainly not be an easy game for them - far from it! It has been a mixed opening few months to the campaign for the Saints on the face of it, as they find themselves exactly midway in the table with a record of three wins, four draws and four defeats. They have had European football to contend with, though, and are well on course to making it out of their group after famously beating Inter Milan recently.
Southampton are also into the last eight of the EFL Cup, just like Liverpool - the side that knocked them out last term - and they were flying high in the Premier League not so long ago, too. A 1-1 draw with Man City at the Etihad Stadium on October 23 extended their unbeaten run to five games in the Premier League and that would soon become just one defeat in 10 in all competitions.
Factor in that the loss came against the run of play at the San Siro, and it is fair to say that Saints fans were more than happy with what they had seen up to that point. Successive league defeats have followed, however, at home to Chelsea and away to Hull, meaning that they face an uphill task this afternoon to wrestle back some momentum in the league if they are to match last season's impressive finish. One win in five, drawing two and losing two, has left them very much in middle ground.
DID YOU KNOW? That defeat to Chelsea here last time out was the Saints' first at St Mary's Stadium in 10 matches. Only Liverpool and Manchester United (both 16) have collected more home points during the calendar year, proving that this really is among the toughest places to visit in the English top flight. Just ask Inter Milan, who fell to a 2-1 defeat on the South Coast not so long ago!
With kickoff at St Mary's Stadium now a little over 10 minutes away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Claude Puel: Charlie [Austin] is a clinical player. He's efficient in front of goal, and it's important for the squad. He's also scored many penalties. But I hope other players can score also. It's important other players have the possibility to score: offensive midfielders, defenders from free-kicks. We have a statistic - we are third in the number of chances every game, and the least efficient [in converting chances into goals]."
Jurgen Klopp: "We can't be the same team we were before the international break. When we play our best then we are much more difficult to play against than they can imagine. But for this one, I don't know. I haven't seen all my players until now. The Brazilian players [Coutinho and Firmino] only got back on Wednesday night."
Puel talking up the importance of Austin in the build-up to this game, a player who has scored eight in eight in all competitions this term - no English player scoring more in that time. That was not enough to earn him a call-up to the latest Three Lions squad, but Puel knows just how important his is to this side - albeit perhaps too important as his French boss was quick to point out ahead of the visit of Liverpool.
Klopp perhaps warning fans that they should not get too carried away, meanwhile, following what has been a hugely impressive recent spell. Opponents have been brushed aside with ease in recent weeks, culminating in that 6-1 win against Watford which took them top for the first time in 30 months. Klopp also talked about the importance of having Coutinho and Firmino in his ranks - well both are fit enough to start this afternoon's game, as is returning Saint, and £34m purchase, Mane.
PREDICTION! Not long to go before we get under way on the South Coast now, so it is time to offer a prediction. Arsenal's draw with Man United a short while ago will only add as more incentive for the Reds to push on and open up the gap on the Gunners this afternoon, with Man City also in action at 3pm and Chelsea to play their game in hand tomorrow. The Saints have a hugely impressive record on home soil, but I'll back the visitors to claim a 2-0 win today.
Both sets of players have just made their way into the tunnel area at St Mary's Stadium, with kickoff now around four minutes or so away. All eyes very much on the Reds in the Premier League at the moment as they aim to make it 11 games without defeat in all competitions, keeping the distance between themselves and the chasing pack intact in the process. Southampton need a win to begin their climb back up the table, meanwhile, as they sit 10th with a mixed record thus far.
We are now just moments away from kickoff on the South Coast; the Premier League leaders, aiming to keep their unbeaten run going, facing off against a Southampton side with eyes on eighth place. St Mary's Stadium has been among the toughest grounds to visit this calendar year, along with Anfield and Old Trafford, so the Reds will no doubt settle for a sloppy and narrow 1-0 win if offered to them right now.
KICKOFF! Southampton, in their traditional red and white striped tops this afternoon, gets us up and running on the South Coast. Firmino quick to close down his man in the opening 30 seconds and Liverpool quickly win possession of the ball.
No signs of tiredness from Liverpool's forward players; Firmino and Coutinho pressing high up the pitch and already causing problems for their opponents' backline. The Saints do well to get the ball forward, though, with Bertrand's shot deflected behind.
Southampton have done well to remain composed in the opening stages of this match, remaining unfazed by their opponents' harrying high up the pitch. It will be interesting to see if those intensity levels remain throughout, with Coutinho and Firmino likely to be below 100% fit.
Liverpool remaining very patient with their build-up play, slowly stepping up the tempo slightly but so far being unable to really find a way through. One ball down the right flank for Clyne had just a little too much pace on it.
Puel will not be all that concerned to see his side sitting back and soaking up some early pressure, but he will want the Saints to capitalise on the counter. The game being played almost exclusively in the hosts' half of the pitch at the moment.
Liverpool's front free remaining as fluid as ever early on here, interchanging well as they await that first opening of the match. Just the one attempt of any note so far - Bertrand seeing a shot deflect behind for a corner.
Redmond gets away from Can and makes good ground down the right flank, but Lovren is across superbly to block the winger's run. Still Liverpool patiently knock the ball around, stepping into the final third but just being unable to carve any chances.
A slight scare at the back for Southampton as Romeu appeared to let the ball run when he needed to clear it away. It did not matter in the end, though, with danger being swept up before a Liverpool player could capitalise. Soares with the second shot of the game, which ends well wide of the target.
A first sign of Boufal out on the left of Southampton's front three, but he was unable to get the beating of his man in the final third. Southampton doing so much sitting back at the moment, which is making their transitions into attack a little difficult.
Redmond starting to find his stride now on the right, taking the ball past one and lofting a decent delivery into the box for Karius to race out and punch clear with both hands. The Saints the side on top over the past few minutes here.
The onus is very much on Liverpool to step things up the longer this one remains a stalemate. It has been a very quiet opening quarter to the game, in truth - just the two shots of any not, both of which failed to find the target.
Things not quite going Liverpool's way at the moment, it is fair to say. They are still edging the possession count, but they have done little with it so far; their fluid front three being restricted time on the ball in areas where it matters.
Coutinho has his heels clipped and wins a free kick for his side, which the home fans are unhappy about to say the least. Romeu with a rash challenge on Wijnaldum, but referee Mark Clattenburg decides to keep his cards in his pocket.
SAVE! Liverpool finally fire away their first shot of any note, which requires a stunning stop from Fraser Forster. The ball was laid off for Mane inside the box; the Senegalese's shot heading for the top corner if not for the stopper's strong hand.
Boufal unable to prod the ball through to Redmond, as Liverpool are stretched at the back. The Reds probably should be in the lead after creating the game's best opening for Mane, which Forster did superbly to help over the bar a few moments ago.
Southampton not sitting back as much as they did in the opening 10 minutes or so, instead looking to get the ball in behind as quickly as possible. Fonte clearing up the danger well every time the ball enters the Saints' box.
Coutinho's first sight of goal, as he works half a yard 22 yards from goal but rather drags his effort wide of the post. Three goals in six games against the Saints in all competitions for the Brazilian, remember, so do not bet against him find the net today.
Mane with a ball across towards Coutinho is met by Soares, with the Brazilian waiting to tap the ball home. Austin is struggling at the moment and is likely to be replaced by Long shortly unless he shakes off the knock he has picked up.
Liverpool yet to truly get going in this first half, then, but they did come close to opening the scoring through the game's best chance thus far. Mane's teasing cross is well cushioned down for Forster to collect, ending another visiting attack.
BLOCK! A chance for Austin to burst forward, but his early ball through towards Redmond lacked any real precision and it went straight through for Karius to collect. Mane was then played through at the other end, but his goal-bound shot was superbly blocked by Van Dijk a few yards out.
Mane the game's most dangerous player in this first half, seeing one shot blocked aside by Van Dijk and another well saved by Forster. Austin gets in behind the Reds' backline, but he was too far wide to shoot and had nobody within 40 yards of him to pick out.
Austin still hobbling around, which has been the case for a good 15 minutes or so now. Not sure whether he will emerge for the second half, but his ability to get in behind a few moments ago shows that he is a vital player for the Saints.
Matip again had to be alert to prevent Austin getting a clean run through on goal. Southampton have had their moments in this first half, which is near its conclusion, but it is the visitors who have had the better chances, as Wijnaldum drives a shot wide.
HALF TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
The Premier League's top scorers so far unable to register at St Mary's, and in truth they have only had a couple of half-chances to put that right. Southampton have yet to have a shot on target, seeing their only shots so far blocked aside, while Liverpool's best openings fell the way of former Saint star Sadio Mane.
The Saints did well to restrict their opponents' fluid forward players in a quiet first half, but they barely mustered an opening of their own with their only two attempts of the half failing to trouble Loris Karius. It took until a third of the way through the match before the division's top-scoring side created their first chance, which Sadio Mane curled toward the top corner for Fraser Forster to help over the bar.
Mane was proving to be the Reds' most lively player in the opening 45 minutes on his return to the South Coast, doing well to get in behind only for his shot to be blocked aside by Virgil van Dijk from a few yards out. Liverpool, who started the weekend top of the table for the first time since April 2014, patiently probed away but it proved to be a frustrating first half of limited openings at either end.
The only other real talking point from the first half was the way the Saints looked to get in behind with quick balls forward, but when Austin managed to burst into the box he had no options alongside him. A point would suit Southampton far more than their opponents, yet there is still half of this game to go on the South Coast.
Attention now turns towards both sides' back-up options, which could well decide which way this tight game swings. Charlie Austin was limping around for half of the opening 45 minutes, so do not be too surprised to see Shane Long introduced either at half time or on the hour mark, while Jurgen Klopp is more likely to stick with his options at this point.
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Taylor, Yoshida, Clasie, Long, Rodriguez, Martina, Reed
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Lucas, Grujic, Origi, Sturridge
RESTART! We are back under way in the only Premier League game without a goal, as the rain continues to pour down on the South Coast. No changes made by either manager at the break, so Austin clearly OK to continue for now.
PENALTY APPEAL! A strong shout for a Liverpool pen in the opening stages of the second half, as Firmino gets the wrong side of Van Dijk inside the box. The Dutchman had a tug at his opponent's shirt, but Clattenburg waved play on.
CHANCE! Some more slick play from the visitors, as Mane drives into the area and attempts to get a shot at goal. The angle was against him, but moments later Coutinho had an even better chance when the ball was squared to him by Firmino. Coutinho got his shot horribly wrong, though, slashing it wide of the target.
Fonte did well to put pressure on Coutinho when the Brazilian was through, but he did not make any contact on the ball - the Liverpool man instead just getting his shot horribly wrong. Fonte is back on the field now after receiving some treatment.
Liverpool much closer to their free-flowing best in this second half, then, with two decent openings and a penalty shout already. Puel may just be thinking of making a change around about now, with his side unable to really grab a foothold in the match.
It is still the visitors who are doing all the probing, Southampton just having to sit back and ride out this wave of pressure. It is far from Liverpool at their best, but they are showing signs that they are about to click into top gear.
Real panic in the Southampton box as Coutinho's cross goes towards the box post and appeared to be flicked marginally wide by Austin. The corner was equally as dangerous, but the Saints are just about doing enough to keep the scoreline level.
CHANCE! Southampton's first real chance of the match falls to their star forward, as Soare's cross from the right is glanced narrowly wide of the target by Austin. The Englishman probably should have been doing better from there.
YELLOW CARD! The first caution of the match is shown to Cedric Soares, who pulled back on Coutinho's shirt to enter the referee's book. All becoming a bit stop-start at the moment, which will suit Southampton nicely.
Still Sturridge waits to be called upon, which is a little surprising because Coutinho and Firmino have been far from their best. Mane was lively in the first half but we have not seen as much of him since the restart on his old hunting ground.
SHOT! A rare shot on goal via the boot of Can, who dragged his left-footed attempt wide of the far post from 12 yards out. Man City lead at Palace, incidentally, so the Reds will slip from the top as things stand.
Looking at the live table, Liverpool will actually remain top despite being locked on points and goal difference with the Citizens. Far too soon to be analysing the table in that detail, but this will be two points dropped nonetheless.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Shane Long is introduced with around 20 minutes to play at St Mary's, taking the place of Sofiane Boufal who did not do too much to catch the eye on his first Premier League start. Long and Austin will now pair up, as Firmino prods the ball wide of goal.
Southampton really struggling to keep hold of the ball when winning it back, with substitute Long this time left all alone when looking to break forward. Still, the Saints are doing a really good job at preserving this point.
Liverpool face Sunderland (h), Bournemouth (a) and West Ham (h) in their next three outings, ahead of a Merseyside derby clash with Everton, so a point from this one is far from disastrous. This is among the toughest grounds to visit, after all.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Charlie Austin has played far longer than I anticipated after he picked up that knock half-hour in. The Englishman is now replaced by Jay Rodriguez, who will take up a wider role with Long through the middle.
Milner with a dangerous first-time ball from the left, which a Southampton player got the final touch to because it went behind for a corner - Liverpool's seventh of the match. Just over 10 minutes for the Reds to step things up and find a goal.
LIVERPOOL SUB! First roll of the dice from Klopp, which has taken longer than expected. It is an attacking one, though, as Sturridge comes on in place of Can - striker for a midfielder. Coutinho has just been booked for taking a swipe at Redmond.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! The visitors' hopes of rescuing a point not being helped with the stop-start feel to the game; Harrison Reed coming on in place of Hojbjerg now for the Saints, with eight minutes of normal time to go.
CLOSE! Good work from Sturridge out on the right as he twists one way and the other before sending a ball towards the back post. Clyne was waiting but could only head the ball wide of the target, sending out another warning to his former side.
SAVE! Not sure how much longer Southampton can hold on for. Coutinho's shot from the edge of the box is blocked as far as Firmino, who sees his curled shot pushed over the bar by Forster. Milner then drives wide from range.
It just does not look like happening for the visitors, who will see their lead completely slashed at the summit if things remain this way for the next five minutes or so. Southampton may spring a late sucker punch, but it is more likely to end goalless at this rate.
LIVERPOOL SUB! We are now into four minutes of added time on the South Coast. Divock Origi, the scorer of a hat-trick here in the League Cup last season, replaces Sadio Mane for the closing stages. The Senegalese wins a corner from his last shot.
Hearts in mouths for Liverpool fans, as Southampton have possession of the ball on the edge of the box - pretty much the most we have seen from Southampton in an attacking sense this half - but the visitors deal with it well.
FULL TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
Referee Mark Clattenburg blows his whistle for full time, meaning a rare disappointing afternoon for Liverpool in the Premier League. For just the third time this season they have failed to register in the top flight, with their lead at the top of the table disappearing courtesy of Man City's win over Crystal Palace elsewhere this afternoon. Fraser Forster pulled off two decent saves for Southampton, as they produced an impressive defensive display to keep out the division's top scorers.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at St Mary's Stadium. An on-the-whistle match report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the late kickoff in the Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United can be found here. Enjoy!
