Liverpool eased past Southampton 3-0 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon to make it three Premier League victories in a row for the first time this calendar year.

The Reds once again had Mohamed Salah to thank for the three points, as the Egyptian winger added two more goals to his collection in the first half to make it nine in 12 league games since arriving - surpassing legendary striker Robbie Fowler's previous record.

Southampton offered very little by way of response and conceded a third in the second period, with Philippe Coutinho adding the icing to the cake in what proved to be a stroll for the hosts, who are within one point of fourth place.

A wayward Salah volley aside, Liverpool struggled to find their attacking rhythm in a quiet opening quarter to the match as they looked to avoid going five matches in a row without finding the net in this fixture.

Not until Georginio Wijnaldum blasted the ball on target 22 minutes in did Fraser Forster have anything to do, with Southampton managing to remain compact at the back.

The Saints' reluctance to get bodies forward allowed Liverpool to enjoy more and more possession of the ball in the final third, however, and the home side had the goal they craved half an hour in through their top scorer.

Salah made the most of some sloppy play from Dusan Tadic on the edge of the Southampton box by curling the ball past Forster from 25 yards.

Liverpool, now beaten here just twice in their last 33 league matches, bagged a second 10 minutes later through the same man, as Salah this time latched on to Coutinho's perfectly-weighted through-ball and tucked past Forster - his 14th goal in all competitions since joining from Roma.

The travelling Southampton fans had to wait until the final minute of the first half for their first shot, which ended inches wide of the target via a Ryan Bertrand free kick.

Two goals were always likely to be enough against a toothless Southampton side - just nine goals in 12 games for them this term - although the visitors did show a little more about themselves early in the second half.

Sofiane Boufal had an attempt blocked by Dejan Lovren in front of goal as they chucked more bodies forward, but it came at a risk as Liverpool were given plenty of chances to counter.

Forster denied Roberto Firmino from close range and Coutinho prodded just wide, while Alberto Moreno should have done better when the Reds attacked with five men against three.

Liverpool had their third goal soon after, though, with Coutinho tucking home the rebound from close range after Firmino's shot was blocked by the chest of Forster.

Jurgen Klopp's men looked the more likely to add a fourth in the remainder, squandering the best of their chances late on when Firmino shot wide from a good position.