Mohamed Salah one of five 4s, Alisson a 3 while Danny Ings gets an 8 - Southampton v Liverpool player ratings

Ings's stunning second-minute goal earned three points which moved Southampton into sixth

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  SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Fraser Forster - 6. Called into the team because Alex McCarthy tested positive for Covid-19 and made the most of his chance. Dominated the area and made a good one-on-one save from Salah. AFP

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  Kyle Walker-Peters - 7. The 23-year-old was involved in a number of last-ditch clearances and held his own in the battle with Mane. He was a touch fortunate not to concede a penalty after tangling with the Senegalese. Reuters

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  Jan Bednarek - 7. The Pole neutralised any aerial threat and avoided being dragged out of position by Liverpool’s movement. A solid display. Reuters

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  Jack Stephens - 7. Strong defending from the Englishman. Made a superb sliding block when Mane looked poised to threaten the goal. EPA

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  Ryan Bertrand - 6. The 31-year-old had an easier night than he might have expected. He was unable to get forward much but was rarely troubled by Salah and Alexander-Arnold. Reuters

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  Stuart Armstrong - 7. The Scot was very busy in the midfield, pressing hard at every opportunity. He disrupted the opposition’s passing game. AFP

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  James Ward-Prowse - 7. The 26-year-old’s magnificent free kick set up Ings to score. The midfielder’s clever passing always contained a hint of threat. EPA

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  Ibrahima Diallo - 8. The Frenchman was full of running and gave the Liverpool midfield no room to manoeuvre. Produced a great block to cut out a dangerous Firmino cross just before Mane could pounce. EPA

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  Moussa Djenepo - 6. The Malian caused trouble by running directly at the defence but picked up an injury on one of his dribbles. Limped off after 32 minutes to be replaced by Tella. AFP

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  Theo Walcott - 6. The on-loan Everton forward took up good positions and ran hard but his end product did not live up to expectations. Withdrawn for Valery in the 82nd minute. EPA

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  Danny Ings - 8. A superb finish for the goal was the highlight against his former club. He made a difficult opportunity look easy. The striker held the ball up well when his team were under pressure. Substituted for N’Lundulu with 13 minutes to go. Reuters

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  SUB: Nathan Tella - 6. Replaced Djenepo after 32 minutes. Went close with a shot before half time but drifted out of the game for periods of the second half. EPA

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  SUB: Dan N’Lundulu - 5. On for Ings in the 77th minute. The 21-year-old saw little of the ball in the short time he was on the pitch. EPA

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  SUB: Yan Valery - 7. The Frenchman was brought on for Walcott for the last eight minutes to bolster the right side of the defence and almost scored a second goal on the break. EPA

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  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 3. The Brazilian’s distribution was poor and he looked uncertain at times, perhaps disconcerted by the changes in the defence. Little chance to stop the goal but an excursion outside the area late on nearly gave away a second. Reuters

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3. Should have been more aware of the danger before the goal. Gave the ball away too often on one of his worst nights for some time. Withdrawn for Milner in the 76th minute. EPA

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  Jordan Henderson - 5. Did well in the role of auxiliary centre-back but was badly missed in midfield. The captain was vocal in his attempts to rally the side. AFP

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  Fabinho - 5. The Brazilian is much less secure without a dedicated centre-half beside him. Found it difficult to cope with the movement of Ings. EPA

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  Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot ranged upfield but his deliveries were not up to the usual standard. At least he produced an element of threat. Reuters

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  Georginio Wijnaldum - 4. The Dutchman had too much ground to cover and could not establish dominance in the restructured midfield. He was unable to provide much creative input. EPA

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  Thiago Alcantara - 4. The 29-year-old had a dreadful start, giving away the free kick that led to the goal before getting booked. Did not cope with the press in the first half and failed to unpick the defence when Southampton dropped deep in the second period. EPA

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  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 4. Struggled to have any impact on the game. The 27-year-old cannot find a coherent role in the team since returning from injury. Replaced by Shaqiri before the hour mark. EPA

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  Mohamed Salah - 4. The Egyptian was unable to eke out space and chances. The supply lines were poor but so was the striker's performance. EPA

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  Roberto Firmino - 4. Managed to carve out one dangerous situation for Mane in the second half but the Brazilian was otherwise disappointing. EPA

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  Sadio Mane - 6. The brightest of the forwards. Lots of effort but little reward for the Senegalese striker. Wasted his best chance by shooting over the bar and scuffed another opportunity. AFP

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  SUB: Xherdan Shaqiri - 5. On for Oxlade-Chamberlain with 33 minutes remaining. Tried hard to make a difference but laboured without reward. Reuters

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  SUB: James Milner - 5. Joined the action with 13 minutes to go when Alexander-Arnold was taken off. Tried to get forward but was scythed down by Walcott. AFP

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool are suffering a "rusty moment" after a 1-0 defeat at Southampton extended the defending champions' winless run in the Premier League to three games.

Danny Ings' stunning second-minute goal earned three points which moved Southampton into sixth and led to Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl breaking into tears of joy on the final whistle.

Liverpool remain top of the table on goal difference over Manchester United, but have now played a game more than the Red Devils, who they face in their next league game at Anfield on January 17.