Boss: Phil has Goal of the Season shot

In just the third minute of a crucial meeting between two sides chasing Champions League qualification, the No.10 made an immediate mark.

Collecting a pass inside from the left, the Brazilian shifted his body to a central position and trained his sights on an ambitious shot at Fraser Forster's goal.

The 'keeper was helpless to stop what flew his way, with Coutinho launching a swerving blast that dipped and spun in the air on its route to hitting the top corner.

"It was an incredible goal," was Rodgers' immediate reaction to Liverpoolfc.com after the final whistle at St Mary's brought a 2-0 result for the Reds.

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"It was a good demonstration of the system, how we can take the ball out from the side. We worked it into the wide area and then the spaces are on the inside.

"Young Phil has taken a touch and it was an incredible strike - it has got to be up there with Goal of the Season. It gave us a great start in the game."

From there, the Saints tested their visitors significantly, pressing high up the field and trying to pick a path through Rodgers' stubborn three-man defence.

They couldn't, however, and the three points were bagged when Raheem Sterling seized upon an error inside the area to side-foot a second beyond Forster.

The win lifted Liverpool up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League standings, now just two points off fourth place and three behind Arsenal in third.

"They are all big games for us at the moment, because of how we played at the beginning of the season," the manager added.

"But you see the confidence in the team and the desire that they have to win, coming to a team that has done exceptionally well this season.

"That's now a home and away victory against Southampton, so that shows the level that the players are at. We have just got to keep it going. The players are working tirelessly to make up for the poor start and they deserve all the credit." 

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