A great performance for Saints but ultimately our desire to go for the win was a gamble that did not pay off as Liverpool won it on the break.
Saints are playing without fear these days and against one of the nest two teams in the League they took the game to them and deservedly took the lead, however ultimately in trying to win the game Ralph Hasenhuttl took a gamble which sadly didn't pay off.
Going into the game we knew our strengths and we knew our weaknesses, we knew that when we beat Spurs we got away with it with a succession of missed chances by the visitors, ironically we probably played better against Liverpool in losing than we did against Spurs and winning.
There were no surprises in the Saints starting line up, only on the bench where it was pretty much an attacking line up.
Shane Long was in for Danny Ings who was unable to play against his parent club, but tht paid divdends after only 9 minutes when the Irishman pulled off his man and fired home to send St Mary's wild.
The game then settled into a pattern, Liverpool had a lot of the ball but Saints were digging in and going on the break with speed and as they do these day were playing without fear.
But they were not to lead at the break and it would be Liverpool who equalised on the break although TV replays subsequently showed that Salah was a yard offside as he went down the line and crossed for Keita to head home with Gunn almost keeping it out.
The second half followed the same pattern, Saints stayed strong although again TV replays showed they should have had a penalty and as the game headed into the final 25 minutes Ralph Hasenhuttl was looking to win it sending on Sims for Long and going for the jugular, however it was to be a gamble that would not pay off.
With 10 minutes to go Saints were pushing for a winner and got caught on the break, Salah getting the ball and running and running and running before firing home a goal that cannot be argued was pure class.
On came Armstrong and Austin to try and retrieve the game, but it was too late and we were a little unbalanced and it was Liverpool who would seal the game and make sure there would be no shocks with 4 minutes left.
Saints fans were down but not out though, they recognised the effort the team has put in and realise that if we play like this in the final games we will be fine, we now play with confidence and without fear, last season and indeed in the fixture at Anfield we did not give Liverpool a game, we were like frightened rabbits, this time we stood up like men and gave as good as we have got.
But as I said in the preview we all know the weaknesses in the side and they were exposed, but that will not faze us in the run in, we will get the job done and then hopefully in the summer sort those weak links out and then we will be a decent side again.
Friday night was nothing to be ashamed of, only Manchester City have beaten Liverpool and most teams lose, we gave them as good a game as any team this season, next season will be better still.