Brendan Rodgers bemoans poor defending

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his side did not play well during their 3-1 defeat to Southampton this afternoon.

The Reds found themselves 2-0 down within 32 minutes courtesy of goals from Morgan Schneiderlin and Rickie Lambert and, despite pulling one back before the break, it was a deficit that they couldn't overturn.

Jay Rodriguez secured the points for Southampton when he advanced unchallenged into the area to beat Brad Jones in the second attempt, and Rodgers was unhappy with his side's defending throughout.

"We just weren't very good. It was as simple as that. If you start a game the way we started it then it is very difficult at this level to get back. We only started to play when we were 2-0 down. We got it back to 2-1 and we were better in the second half but then conceded another very poor goal," said Rodgers.

"Today was a poor day at the office. The problem is we have to live with it for a couple of weeks now. When you concede the goals we conceded today it is always going to be difficult to win games.

"It's something I know that we need to improve. We need to develop as a group. Today we didn't defend or play as well as we can. I know the areas where we can improve."

The result leaves Liverpool seventh in the Premier League table, five points off fifth-placed Arsenal.