SAINTS manager Russell Martin was "annoyed" by the final result but was ultimately proud of his players in defeat at Anfield. 

Lewis Koumas scored on debut and fellow 18 year old Jayden Danns registered his first two goals as a depleted Liverpool side beat Saints 3-0. 

Saints saw a succession of chances go begging, while Sekou Mara had an opener ruled out for offside inside the first minute. 

It means the focus turns solely to the Championship campaign, with five points to make up on second place in the remaining 12 games. 

Martin said: "I don't think 3-0 is a fair reflection of the game as we should have been one or two up before they got close to a goal.

"The difference in the game is the quality of the finishing and their goalkeeper making some brilliant saves.

"If we are ever going to lose, then let's do it being the team we want to be and I can't ask any more from them tonight. 

"They had so much intensity and care for each other because you can't play through an aggressive press like that without it. 

"I really enjoyed watching my team tonight but I am really hurt for them and the result as I didn't think we deserved that." 

Southampton's performance dropped off in the final 20 minutes, with Danns hitting a brace on his second appearance the result. 

Substitute Will Smallbone was at fault for the second goal, while the third one was a rebound on a good save from Joe Lumley. 

"Energy and fatigue probably," Martin suggested, when asked what he believes was the force behind the dip. 

"I could also feel the guys getting frustrated because they saw a chance here. It is not normal to have four or five big chances here. 

"Maybe they felt a bit frustrated with that. I am annoyed the game got away from us, the second goal killed it and is a rubbish goal to concede." 

However, Martin hopes the moments they did have in front of 5,500 travelling supporters can act as further motivation for their league campaign. 

He insisted: "If you can do that here, you can do it anywhere.

"I have been unhappy with three halves of football for probably six months so if we can have that intensity and care then it will be an exciting end to the season. 

"The biggest motivation for the players to have is to try and get to the Premier League and come to places like this every week.

"Then they can play football and showcase what they can do. They will be able to do the Premier League in a different way to how they have done it before. 

"We won't change so hopefully they enjoyed the moments they had tonight at Anfield enough to whet their appetite to have some more of that."