SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are “rusty” after losing 1-0 at the hands of Southampton who went on to win the defending champions in the Premier League for three games.

Danny Ings’ goal in the second minute gave three full points leading Southampton to sixth and Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl wept for joy after the final whistle.

Liverpool remain in the league standings with a goal difference over Manchester United, but now play more than one game against the Red Devils, who will face them in the next league match at Anfield on January 17.

“It’s a rusty period that we have to admit,” said Klopp, with his squad last failing to win three consecutive Premier League matches in May 2018.

“Only if you know the problem, you can solve it, we are not blind. We have to fight and go through it.”

The first three-month defeat in the league could accelerate Liverpool’s search for a central defender in the January transfer market.

Without injured Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Klopp used two of the selected midfielders, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson together in defense.

“It wasn’t just a slow start, but the start of the defense made our lives very difficult tonight,” Klopp said.

Southampton also lost some key players with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy not playing due to COVID-19 positive while Oriol Romeu, Jannik Vestergaard and Che Adams were all injured.