Klopp hails in-form Salah

The 25-year-old Egyptian international took his tally to 14 goals in all competitions with a brace in the first half of the Premier League clash, before Philippe Coutinho added a third just after the hour.

Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in June but has already underlined his worth with a top flight-leading nine league goals in an impressive start to life at Anfield.

No player in the club’s history has more goals than Salah after their first 12 Premier League appearances, after he who eclipsed Robbie Fowler’s tally of eight.

“He is in a good moment,” said Klopp.

“It’s good for us, good for us. The first goal, the ball was away and we fought back somehow.

“That is not a real chance from there, I would say. It was a fantastic goal.

“The second goal? Fantastic play. What a pass.

“I’m pretty sure Philippe Coutinho has played a few passes like this in his life but it is not often you get it in the box and someone is not offside. That is quite rare I would say.”

– ‘In a difficult moment’ –

Klopp said that his side had needed to take those chances against a side who proved a bogey outfit for them last season, including knocking them out of the League Cup semi-finals.

“Southampton are a really good football team and you need these moments,” said Klopp.

“We have not had them too often this season. We all know what it has been like after 50, 60 minutes here this season.

“It could be the same performance but you need these goals and thank God we scored them. That makes all the difference.

“We have a nice team all around. We have a lot of wonderful people. It was easy for Mo to settle in, but he is also a pretty good football player.”

The win helped Klopp’s side to remain among the teams chasing Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Liverpool are in fifth spot, 12 points behind table-topping City but just three behind second-placed Chelsea.

Klopp was also pleased with his side’s defensive performance.

Liverpool have conceded just one goal in their past eight Premier League games at Anfield, and kept seven clean sheets in the current streak.

“You can imagine I am really happy about the defending of the whole team. The last line was really strong in these moments,” said Klopp.

“It was just an all-round good performance and really deserved. It was also very important. We have pushed the top of the table together and that is really good. We are still in there.

“City is obviously flying and are pretty alone. We cannot change that. But we can make pressure on the others and we will do that.”

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino urged his players to show their fighting spirit as he demanded a response in their next match against struggling Everton.

The Saints were outplayed for large periods at Anfield and failed to register a single shot on target in the entire contest.

“We started well with energy, with shape and didn’t give them too much space to create — but we made a couple of mistakes and it was really difficult for us to come back,” said Pellegrino.

“You cannot give the ball away too easily. In general, Liverpool were one pace more than us.

“We know that we are in a difficult moment in terms of results. In these moments though you learn where you are at and we need to express our character.”