Thursday 3 December 2015 12:45, UK
Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final was every bit as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, but there's still plenty for Liverpool and Southampton to take from the game at St Mary's.
With the Saints on the slide and Liverpool riding high, a glance at the team sheets before the game suggested the home side were taking the competition extremely seriously.
But the Reds under Jurgen Klopp have proved red-hot away from home, and the strike partnership of Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge blew their opponents away in a 6-1 rout.
On a night packed with goals, let's take a look at some of the biggest talking points...
Sturridge stars on return
The forward marked his return with a vintage display, demonstrating just how valuable he can be to Liverpool if he keeps himself fit.
That's a big if, but on this evidence, Sturridge could be the perfect forward to lead the line under Klopp. He took both goals brilliantly, beating Steven Caulker for the opener before dispatching a clinical half-volley for his second four minutes later.
Liverpool have plenty of options up front - Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino stayed on the bench at St Mary's while Origi bagged a hat-trick - and Klopp withdrew Sturridge on the hour, telling Sky Sports after the game that he will need to be careful to manage his minutes.
"We will work together with him and do what we can, that's all I can say," Klopp said after the match. "Sometimes it's bad luck, even a long period out can be bad luck.
"In this moment he feels really good, he felt really good during the game. He doesn't have to play all the matches for us, but if we can decide when is the right moment for fighting and when is the right moment for recovery, everything should be OK."
If Sturridge can get back to his best, and he's not far away, then Liverpool will be a serious attacking force this season.
Another special away performance
The manager's magic touch continues - that's one defeat in 11 for Klopp since he took charge of the Reds, and Wednesday was another fine away performance to add to an already impressive collection.
It was every bit as eye-catching as their displays at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, and considering Klopp made six changes to his team, it can be chalked up as another success for the high-pressing system.
It's a philosophy that looks particularly well suited to the Reds on their travels, and their relative struggles in front of goal at Anfield back that up. Southampton couldn't cope with the pressure that started with Origi and Sturridge up front, and continued through Emre Can and Adam Lallana in midfield, the latter in particular enjoying his return to a former stomping ground.
Even when the Reds made changes late on, the likes of Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith maintained that high-energy, all-action approach.
Dominant Can misses Super Sunday clash
Emre Can has been a key cog in Klopp's machine, playing 90 minutes in every Premier League game except the Crystal Palace defeat since the German took charge.
He was exceptional again at St Mary's, setting up Sturridge's second with an inch-perfect cross from the outside of his right foot, but a second half booking means Can will miss the Super Sunday clash against Newcastle at the weekend.
With Jordan Henderson back in the squad, Klopp has alternatives, but the Germany international has the energy to make Liverpool's high pressing system incredibly effective.
The case for the Saints defence
There's not much wrong with the Saints going forward, Sadio Mane's first minute header was the 100th goal of Ronald Koeman's Southampton reign, but there are problems in defence.
Defeat by Liverpool was their third on the trot, and comes after a disastrous opening 20 minutes at Manchester City on Saturday ended their hopes of a result prematurely.
Koeman admitted as much after the game, and the Saints manager can't welcome back captain Jose Fonte soon enough. His side have now conceded nine in their last two games, and while Koeman took responsibility for the second-half collapse after a tactical reshuffle, he was not impressed by the first-half display.
"That was not the result we expected," Koeman told Sky Sports. "But if you make the mistakes defensively that we did in the first half and you face the top quality of Liverpool, then you can lose.
The second half was my responsibility, I changed the system and took the risk to play with three at the back. If you analyse Liverpool's first goal, it's a throw-in, if you see how easy they play out and score the goal, that's not good, and that can't happen at this level.
"I'm disappointed with how we defended today, and our defence starts up front. But the whole team performance in defence in the first half was not good."
Origi stakes claim for place
Origi, signed almost 18 months ago, scored his first three goals for Liverpool on a special night for the young striker.
His Reds career was still looking for that spark after a loan spell at Lille ended last season, but Origi displayed his considerable potential for the first time in front of a big Liverpool away support at St Mary's.
His first goal was opportunistic, but his second and third were impressive finishes past a talented international goalkeeper, and Origi has now given Klopp something to think about.
On paper the return of Sturridge pushed the Belgium international further down the pecking order at Anfield, but Origi has staked his claim, and speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, said he believes he's beginning to settle on Merseyside.
"It's very special for us and for me also it's special, coming to England as a young boy, it's not easy," Origi said. "But I've been able to show my qualities and I'm very happy.
"I've worked very hard and today I had the support from everybody, and the coach gave me the confidence and I was able to reward him.
"We fought very hard, we have quality and we press very high."
