With that goal Mohamed Salah equals the best ever start by a Liverpool player after 12 games.

Robbie Fowler found the net eight times in 12 league games and Salah now has the same tally.

Alberto Moreno drills in low from the left, the ball is aimed at the edge of the area but Steven Davis is expertly positioned to hook clear and make sure no midfielder bursting into the box can profit from the cross.

Trent Alexander-Arnold supports a Liverpool attack and swings in a cross, he's aiming for that corridor of uncertainty. Wesley Hoedt swings a leg at it and slices for a corner. That could have gone anywhere.

In 26 minutes Southampton are yet to touch the ball in the Liverpool area. Steven Davis crosses in but Dejan Lovren heads wide. Another ball in sees Simon Mignolet collect under no pressure.

Competitive stuff if yet to come to light.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Liverpool are seeing more of the ball as you can see below but this is quite competitive.

Phillipe Coutinho's influence is growing and he's had two shots - which is a game high. Saints will want to minimise his involvement and will probably be happy that it's Jordan Henderson who has seen most of the ball for the home side.

Liverpool turn up the heat a tad as a shot from Georginio Wijnaldum has a shot saved by Fraser Forster and moments later Philippe Coutinho bursts forward before shooting wide from 25 yards. It wasn't the most rapid of hits but it had Forster scrambling.

Trent Alexander-Arnold gets away with one as Sofiane Boufal slipped him cleverly on the flank. Alexander-Arnold was too keen to win the ball but a covering midfielder ended up getting between Boufal and any opening.

Philippe Coutinho gets on the ball again 35 yards out and shapes to hit but diusguises his ball out wide to Alberto Moreno expertly. The Spaniard adjusts his feet well to gather and crosses low, blocked for a corner.

In it comes but Saints hold strong.

Liverpool are undoubtedly seeing more of the ball but when Southampton don't have it they drop into a solid 4-5-1 formation with only Shane Long staying up. It's proving hard to break down so far.

Image source, Reuters

Sadio Mane battles to keep the ball when up against the corner flag. Southampton clear and Liverpool work the ball right to Mohamed Salah who is being held by Ryan Bertrand.

Free-kick taken quickly and Philippe Coutinho threads a nice ball through a gap to release Mane... poor cross though.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool failed to score a single goal in any of the four meetings between these clubs last season. Today though they get the boost of being able to call on the fit again Sadio Mane.

In six Premier League outings this season Mane has delivered three goals and two assists.

The former Southampton man has become key to what Liverpool are all about and he's fittingly one of five nominees to be named BBC African Footballer of the Year. For more on how to vote on that award click here.

Oriol Romeu seeks out Shane Long but the ball is intercepted. Southampton get it back though and Dusan Tadic tries to fizz a ball down the line for Cedric Soares on the overlap. Good interception by Alberto Moreno. The left-back has put his resurgence in form down to better nutrition, notably in axing cake and ice cream from his diet.

That's a big sacrifice, old boy, but it's paying off.

Tom: Van Dijk own goal incoming #LFC, external#bbcfootball, external

You think so Tom? That would be a story.

Mohamed Salah is on the end of a cross from the left flank but his first-time volley is hooked wide. A good minute for Liverpool as Southampton come under pressure.

Philippe Coutinho hits, Oriel Romeu blocks. Georginio Wijnaldum bangs from range, deflected. Trent Alexander-Arnold will pick this up one-on-one with the goalkeeper.... he toes it and Fraser Forster is there - but he can't hold it.

Mohamed Salah gets hold of the loose ball and tries to find shooting space but his effort is blocked for a corner. A first glimpse of goal for the home side...

Image source, Reuters

Sadio Mane breaks down the left and floats a cross into the box which Ryan Bertrand is well placed to deal with. Good positioning from the full-back.

Liverpool build again with the Kop behind them in this first half.

Southampton have started well here and are seeing plenty of the ball. Nathan Redmond cuts in from the left flank and tries to fizz a ball through for Shane Long but Dejan Lovren stretches to intercept.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's an example of how stats can be weird.

Southampton have won only four of their top-flight matches at this ground. But in contrast they have proven a true bogey team for Liverpool of late.

Avoid defeat today and Saints could go six games unbeaten against the Reds in all competitions for the first time.

Image source, Getty Images

A fine burst down the right sees Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah link up. The home fans want a corner but it's not given. Oriol Romeu pressures Philippe Coutinho in midfield and brings the Brazilian down.