Liverpool v Southampton player ratings: Mohamed Salah 7, Fabinho 8; Che Adams 4, Theo Walcott 3

Goals from Mane and Thiago seal 2-0 win at Anfield

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8. The Brazilian made a number of important saves, most notably from Adams and Redmond moments before the opening goal. The goalkeeper’s misplaced pass late in the game might have proved costly but he made amends by smothering Adams’ shot. AFP

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 22-year-old was calm on the ball and his passing and crossing were effective. He was less assured defensively. AFP

Nathaniel Phillips - 6. The 24-year-old was tested by Tella and Adams but defended stoutly. He sent a header wide from a first-half corner when he might have done better. Reuters

Rhys Williams - 6. Strong in the air and in the tackle. The 20-year-old found himself in some difficult situations but managed to stay in control. He improved as the game went on. AFP

Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot was penned back for periods but was always eager to get forward. He looked less tired than in recent games. EPA

Fabinho - 8. The Brazilian set the tempo in midfield. He moved the ball on quickly, broke up opposition attacks and kept a watchful eye on the defence. EPA

Georginio Wijnaldum - 6. The Dutchman hit the top of the bar and policed the midfield energetically. He faded a little as the game went on. Reuters

Thiago Alcantara - 7.The 30-year-old will be buoyed by his first goal for the club. He was deployed in an advanced position but had to drop deep in search of the ball. AFP

Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was a constant threat. He worried the defence, worked Forster and provided the cross for the opening goal. Replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with three minutes left. Reuters

Diogo Jota - 6. The Portuguese buzzed around the area and forced Forster to save in each half. He gave the ball away too often and was substituted for Firmino in the 79th minute. AFP

Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese was sharp against his former club and was rewarded with the opening goal. He seems to have recaptured some form. Withdrawn in stoppage time to give Jones an outing. EPA

SUB: Roberto Firmino – 7. A fine cameo by the Brazilian. After joining the game for Jota with 11 minutes to go, he held up the ball and helped create Thiago’s goal. AFP

SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5. Sent on in place of Salah with three minutes remaining, the Englishman had little chance to influence the action. AFP

SUB: Curtis Jones – 5. Given a run-out in stoppage time for Mane. The 20-year-old will be hoping for more minutes on the pitch. Reuters

SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Fraser Forster - 6. The 33-year-old made a number of good stops to keep Liverpool out. Perhaps he could have come for Salah’s cross for the opening goal. EPA

Kyle Walker-Peters - 5. The 23-year-old was outmuscled by Mane for the opening goal. He needed to be stronger defensively but he did cause Liverpool problems going forward. AFP

Jan Bednarek - 4. The Pole has been out of sorts for a while and he was no better at Anfield. He was particularly uncertain in the early stages. AFP

Jannik Vestergaard - 7. The Dane was powerful in the air and commanded the defence. He produced plenty of blocks and tackles and stopped one dangerous effort from Wijnaldum. AFP

Jack Stephens - 5. The 27-year-old endured a difficult evening against Salah. He was vulnerable to diagonal balls into his area of the pitch. Reuters

James Ward-Prowse - 6. The Englishman was quick to sniff out dangerous situations and cut out the threat. His passing was clever and should have had better reward. AFP

Stuart Armstrong - 4. The Scot had a poor first half and gave the ball away too often. He improved after the break and was less wasteful. AFP

Theo Walcott - 3. The former Everton forward had little impact on the game. He drifted wide and found it hard to get on the ball. Replaced by Diallo with 24 minutes to go. AFP

Nathan Tella - 5. The 21-year-old’s movement was good and he found space in the Liverpool area. Unfortunately he could not make the best of his chances and headed straight at Alisson. Taken off in the 66th minute for Obafemi. Reuters

Nathan Redmond - 6. The 27-year-old had some joy running at the defence. His final ball mostly went astray, except for the chance wasted by Tella. EPA

Che Adams - 4. The 24-year-old missed two excellent chances. His attempt to score when presented with the ball by Alisson late in the game was tame. Withdrawn for Djenepo with 11 minutes left. Reuters

SUB: Michael Obafemi – 6. The Irishman was brought on for Tella in the 66th minute to provide an injection of pace. He stretched the defence and set up a chance for Diallo. AFP

SUB: Ibrahima Diallo – 5. The Frenchman replaced Walcott with 24 minutes left and was much more productive. He shot straight at Alisson when in a good position. AFP

SUB: Moussa Djenepo – 5. Joined the action in place of Adams with 11 minutes to go as Southampton chased the game. This was the sixth different position he has played and he struggled to find rhythm. EPA

Sadio Mane's first-half header and a late effort by Thiago earned Liverpool an unconvincing 2-0 win at home to Southampton on Saturday to keep Jurgen Klopp's side in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Liverpool were far from their best, and keeper Alisson saved them on several occasions. But the win moved them into sixth spot with 57 points from 34 games, six points behind fourth-placed Leicester City with a game in hand.

Mane got on the end of Mohamed Salah's flighted pass into the area in the 31st minute, seconds after Southampton's Che Adams had been denied an opener for the visitors.

The three points looked far from safe until Thiago buried a low shot into the corner in the 90th minute - his first goal since joining from Bayern Munich.

Southampton remain in 16th place and, while they are not mathematically safe from relegation, they look like hanging onto their top-flight status.