Liverpool's Southampton Mauling Shows Squad Strength Available to Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool produced another stunning away-day performance, leaving St Mary's Stadium having inflicted Southampton's heaviest home defeat since 1959.

Following on from the 3-1 success at Stamford Bridge and the 4-1 victory at the Etihad, Liverpool hammered their hosts 6-1, despite going a goal behind inside the first minute.

It was a truly impressive performance from Jurgen Klopp's side—despite the six changes made and several first-team players not involved.

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The goals arrived from a returning Daniel Sturridge, who hit two in quick succession to turn things around in the first-half, a hat-trick from youngster Divock Origi—who got the last touch on Alberto Moreno's strike that made it 3-1 before half-time—and one from substitute Jordon Ibe.

Having gained a hard-earned win against Swansea City at Anfield on Sunday, Klopp made six changes and afforded rests for the duo of Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner—only the second time this season that Clyne hadn't started for the Reds.

Adam Bogdan replaced Simon Mignolet in goal, Lucas Leiva returned from suspension in midfield, Joe Allen joined him in place of Milner, while Sturridge and Origi came in up front in place of Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke. Club captain Jordan Henderson was among the subs.

Southampton are a formidable side, and despite making five changes himself, Ronald Koeman named a very strong Saints XI with Graziano Pelle up front and Sadio Mane in support.

That Liverpool left St Mary's having produced such a masterclass against a strong team, and having rotated their own side so much, says two things: first how much Klopp is getting the best from the whole squad, and second how strong this Liverpool squad actually is.

"If you give me the tools, I’ll do the work," proclaimed former boss Brendan Rodgers in his final weeks at Anfield, which seems like a lifetime ago, not two months ago.

“I think I have shown in the early stages of my management—without being arrogant—that with a talented group of players I can compete at the top end of the league," said the Northern Irishman, hinting that he felt Liverpool had allowed top players to leave but not replaced them adequately.

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Klopp has provided a different approach to Rodgers' and shown that Liverpool do have the players to compete at the top end of the league. The tools were there; Rodgers just wasn't using them correctly.

Emre Can is a man reborn in his natural midfield role, providing another exquisite assist for Sturridge's second, Ibe's confidence has returned in his natural attacking role—being tasked with taking defenders on rather than being a defender himself—while the whole team looks better-coached and therefore more effective.

Speaking this week, left-back Alberto Moreno explained how Klopp's training sessions have a strong tactical focus. “He doesn’t do games or things like that. It’s all tactical. It’s what he likes and what we work," said the Spaniard to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope (via This Is Anfield).

Such tactical emphasis is showing with Liverpool's displays, even when the personnel are changed.

Origi

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Hat-trick hero Origi may have been written off ridiculously early in some quarters, but given the chance against Southampton, he thrived.

The 20-year-old Belgian—the same age as academy right-back and fellow starter in the Southampton game Connor Randall—has had few opportunities in his preferred centre-forward role, and being paired alongside Sturridge meant he was afforded far more space.

While Southampton concentrated on Sturridge, Origi shouldered less pressure.

"When he plays, and he only plays for a few minutes, he wants to show everything. That's normal," said Klopp post-match, per the Liverpool Echo. "Everyone wanted him before Liverpool bought him after the World Cup in 2014, but he has to learn. He has to be patient and to work."

While Origi needs to be patient, so too do supporters. Patience really is a virtue when it comes to young players who are eager to show their quality in a new country and at a new club.

"Today, he made only easy passes, used his speed, defended and took his chances," praised Klopp.

"I'm glad that the coach gave me the confidence and I could reward him with the hat-trick," Origi told Sky Sports post-match, per MailOnline. "I think for me also it was special, coming in as a young boy in England is never easy and now I've been able to show my quality and I'm happy."

With his first goal(s) for the club in the bag, Origi's confidence will be high. That, plus a manager who understands his game and how he can develop, will be crucial to his development. 

"

.@DivockOrigi is the first player since Ronnie Rosenthal in April 1990 to score a hattrick the same game as his #LFC debut goal.

— LFChistory.net (@LFChistory) December 2, 2015"

Squad Depth

With Can collecting his fifth booking of the campaign against the Saints, Klopp's decision on how to replace the German in midfield isn't a case of a lack of options, but perhaps too many options. Allen impressed on Wednesday night and will be in contention, while Henderson could even make his first start since August.

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It might be wise not to risk Henderson yet from the start, meaning another strong bench will be named at Newcastle United on Sunday.

With Sturridge, Benteke and Origi all vying for starting places, at least one will be left out, possibly all three if Klopp opted to start Roberto Firmino up front. This is the kind of selection Liverpool have available now.

Liverpool are benefiting from a regular defensive setup, featuring Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Moreno, plus Lucas in front of them and then Milner and Can alongside him. Then Klopp can rotate and refresh his attacking options depending on the opposition.

At Southampton, he varied from his 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 shape to opt for two up front and a midfield diamond. Such a change benefited both Sturridge and Origi, giving Southampton's defenders far more to worry about.

Adam Lallana has been a constant in the starting XI recently and could perhaps benefit from missing Sunday's match in the north-east. Not that that's a problem, since Klopp has Firmino, Ibe or possibly Philippe Coutinho to call on—if the latter has recovered from injury, which is expected.

Options are varied and aplenty for the Liverpool boss entering the festive fixtures.

Even substitute Brad Smith, who was out of contract and on trial at Barnsley recently, has returned to the fold, beautifully supplying the cross for Origi's third goal. With Liverpool's full-back options so slim, the Australian could get more chances going forward.

That Liverpool achieved such a comprehensive showing against Southampton with a starting XI that didn't feature Henderson, Milner, Clyne, Benteke or Firmino, plus the injured Mamadou Sakho, says it all about the strength of this squad.

The tools were there for Rodgers all along, they just needed to be utilised correctly.