This was an important match, would the prediction of Saints demise be accurate or would they emerge from the ashes in phoenix like fashion ?
I said in the run up to the game that in some respects the outcome of this game would not be an accurate guide to the season, if we lost it, it would not automatically mean we were destined for relegation as much if we had won it we would not be challenging for the title, however what Saints fans did need to know was whether they had a team that could compete.
Saints started cagily, but that would be expected from a side who had four players making their competitive debuts for the club, we looked disjointed and in the early stages struggled to put a pass together in the fluent way that we did last season, for their part Liverpool had done their homework and were playing the same pressing game we saw last season so often by our own side. But as the game wore on we seemed to be finding our feet and getting to grips with our new style of play which clearly is different to the style employed under Mauricio Pochettino.
But just as it seemed that we had got into the game we were hit with a sucker punch, we knew that we would be weak in central defence and that proved to be the case, for a brief moment our central defenders seemed to be lost and Henderson put Sterling through one on one and he opened the scoring.
We had our chances and although the half time stats were showing Liverpool with around 60% possession we looked in good form to perhaps get in the game.
We did that in fine style with a smashed goal from Nathaniel Clyne just before the hour mark and suddenly we looked the team of old and really should have taken the lead on more than one occasion, but with 11 minutes to go we shot ourselves in the foot again, twice we failed to clear with headers and when the ball was played in we went to sleep at the back and allowed Sturridge to ghost in and steer the ball home.
We pushed late on and really should have had an equaliser when Morgan Schneiderlin saw his shot tipped onto the bar and Shane Long couldn't force home the rebound.
All in all though a very satisfactory performance from Saints, we showed that we have the makings of a very good squad again, our undoing was central defence where Yoshida put in 100% effort but just keeps getting caught napping at key moments, we know its a problem we have already signed a central defender, but he wasn't available yesterday which perhaps show we need another one as well to add competition.
The new players slotted in well, Forster had little to do other than the basics, but looked to do them well and had no chance with either goal, Bertrand looked in the Clyne mould and able to use his pace, Tadic appears to have what it takes and seems to be more direct than Lallana which could mean more goals both for him and for others.
Pelle looked a bit off the pace early on but clearly has an eye for setting up a goal or two, im sure it will come when he adjusts to the pace of the English game.
Shane Long came on late and played in a deeper role than his usual game, but he looked lively and will be an asset.
All in all the doubters who have been screaming about our demise will have been quietened by this performance it was in some respects just as important about how we played rather than the result, yes we won at Anfield last year but ironically we played better this, Forster did not have a save of note other than the goals and we know we need to address the central defensive area.
Man of the match for Saints was Victor Wanyama, he put in an immense display of winning the ball and playing it simple, he rarely lost a tackle.
With this game out of the way we can concentrate now on showing the world that the demise of Saints is premature, that we are still capable of a good season, the reality of yesterday was that the difference between the two sides was Dejan Lovren, he received almost constant abuse from the Saints fans, but if he had been in our team we would have won, if Gardos is another Lovren then we need to fear nothing from the coming months.