RALPH Hasenhuttl admits the Liverpool hammering was a harsh lesson for Lyanco to endure on his first league start for Saints, but insisted: “This is the Premier League, you have to learn.” 

The 24-year-old Brazilian made his first Premier League appearances as a substitute in the 1-0 wins over Watford and Aston Villa, playing a more integral role in the latter.

He was then introduced again in a similar manner at Norwich, with Hasenhuttl changing to a five-at-the-back unsuccessfully on that occasion, and earned his first start at Anfield as the boss did the same thing.

But it was as difficult as it could get for the summer signing with an eventual 4-0 defeat against the former Premier League and European champions – while he was also unfortunate to see Thiago’s strike deflect off him and into the net to all-but seal it in the first-half.

Each of the Saints defenders were powerless to resist the quality of Liverpool’s world class front three, and Hasenhuttl was asked if it was the toughest lesson Lyanco could get on his first start.

The boss told the Daily Echo: “Yes, this is the Premier League, you know.

“You know that you play against the best teams in the world and you have to learn. You have to get better.”

He continued: “This is what we all are doing every week, learning and finding solutions against top teams is always difficult.

“This is not a place where you have to get points, we have taken one at Manchester City with an unbelievable performance and also at Chelsea we were long on the way to take something.

“On Saturday it was very easy for them because we had a bad first-half and this was very disappointing that we couldn’t keep the game open for longer.”

Popular Lyanco had done well to show fans his promise despite a shaky start, when he struggled immensely on his debut at Sheffield United in the EFL Cup.

Lyanco arrived from Serie A side Torino in the summer having in the past captained Brazil at under-23 level.

He was brought in as a replacement for Jannik Vestergaard, who joined Ryan Bertrand in moving to FA Cup winners Leicester.

Defender Jack Stephens is on his way back from injury and will soon hope to provide further reinforcements in the centre of defence.