NATHAN Jones was given one of the toughest tasks in English football to begin his career as Saints manager and Liverpool were comfortable 3-1 winners.

The result means Saints will spend Christmas Day in the bottom three and could even be bottom, should Wolves pull off a surprise victory over league-leaders Arsenal.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring with question marks over the goalkeeping inside six minutes  but the travelling St Mary’s side did not fold willingly at Anfield.

Che Adams scored his fourth goal of the Premier League season just 180 seconds later to level scores but summer signing Darwin Nunez’s first-half double ended the match as a contest.

Jones experimented with his shape and probably enjoyed more success with the four-at-the-back in the second-half, while good chances to get another goal were scuppered by an imperious Alisson.  

The new boss named a similar team to that which we would expect from Ralph Hasenhuttl, with just three changes from the 4-1 defeat versus Newcastle United that spelled the Austrian’s end.

That, as a result of only having one session to work with the group before flying to Liverpool on Friday evening, meant the five-back stayed with Adams and Adam Armstrong in attack.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was dropped to the bench with Romeo Lavia making a first start since injury in August, while James Ward-Prowse had to play days after learning he did not make the World Cup.

Among those in the stands, aside from Steven Gerrard and comic John Bishop, were Saints and Sport Republic representatives Martin Semmens, Matt Crocker and Henrik Kraft.

What they saw would have felt a little like déjà vu; just minutes in, Firmino’s flicked header from deep evaded everyone including a slow Gavin Bazunu to creep into the far corner.

What happened next was more of a surprise. Still inside the first 10 minutes, Ward-Prowse’s free-kick delivery saw Adams motor past former Saint Virgil van Dijk to power his headed equaliser.

Bazunu then atoned for the earlier error with a sharp stop to deny Mohamed Salah from close-range, but that respite was short-lived.

After several attempts to clear were hacked straight to red shirts, Nunez sneaked in to head Harvey Elliott’s delivery across Bazunu and restore the lead.

The Irishman made further saves to deny Nunez, Firmino and Salah but the big-money Uruguayan forward finished a low Andrew Robertson cross for his brace before half-time.

Jones made no changes during the break but for a switch of his jacket, before deciding on a treble of switches before the hour-mark – and a chance to see his players in a back-four.

An injection of life saw Moi Elyounoussi denied by Alisson and Salah break through but, after being downed in the area by Bella-Kotchap, Bazunu kicked straight up the other end for a substitute Samuel Edozie opportunity.

Adams had a late header well saved by Alisson and an outstretching Lyanco just missed the chance to convert at the back-post shortly after.

Saints were given a minor scare as Lavia was forced to exit the field with what looked, thankfully, to be only cramp – Joe Aribo his replacement. 

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Phillips, 87), Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas, 87); Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott (Milner, 67); Salah, Nunez (Carvalho, 87), Firmino (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 75).

Unused subs: Bajetic, Doak, Adrian (g/k), Kelleher (g/k).

Saints: Bazunu; Elyounoussi, Bella-Kotchap (Lyanco, 72), Caleta-Car (Maitland-Niles, 59), Salisu, Perraud ; Lavia (Aribo, 82), Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong (Edozie, 59); A Armstrong (Walcott, 59), Adams.

Unused subs: Djenepo, Diallo, Mara, McCarthy (g/k).

Booked: Caleta-Car, Salisu.

Referee: Simon Hooper.

VAR: Andre Marriner. 

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