JIMMY Case rates Saints as the best side he has seen at Anfield in the Premier League this season.

The Saints and Liverpool legend watched the match in his role as a match summariser for Radio Merseyside and was impressed with what he saw from Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team.

He said: “Southampton played with a bit of adventure but a lot of teams go there and don’t put too much into it.

“Manchester City and Tottenham have both been to Anfield this season but those type of games seem to be a bit slower with teams just waiting for one slip.

“Other teams play more rigidly with five at the back and four across the middle.

“But when you do that you have to change your formation once one goal goes in.

“Southampton came out and made a game of it and could have been at least 2-0 up.

“For a neutral it was fantastic to watch. I know Liverpool scored the four goals but when you look at the game as a whole it wasn’t a 4-niller, nowhere near.

“The way Liverpool play on the break, as soon as they plough forward they have that power and see it right through to the end.

“But the way Southampton approached the game was fantastic.

“I remember playing against Everton at the old Dell, we lost a great game 4-3. That’s what Southampton fans like to watch.

“Everyone likes to win but a lot of fans would have made the long journey home pleased with the type of football Southampton played.

“They pushed forward in numbers and at certain stages in the Liverpool game they had the confidence to match them in terms of 3 v 3 and 4 on 4 and you don’t often see that happen.

“The intent was there, they created good opportunities and Danny Ings should have had a penalty. Even if they’d gone 1-0 up I think Liverpool would have won as they’re relentless. But Southampton had other chances.”

Like everyone connected with Liverpool, Case was delighted to see Ings playing at Anfield again.

“Liverpool supporters appreciate the honesty of the player, he works hard and appears to be a nice lad,” he continued.

“He was unlucky with injuries and also that Liverpool’s front three is what it is. That’s the difficulty.

“They made the decision to go with Origi, who’s scored some important goals but is not any better than Danny.

“Danny creates opportunities without even having the ball and he can take a chance as well. He never stops looking for a goal.

“Alan Shearer was like that. I played in his debut. When he went a few games without a goal he would never stop doing the things that he was before.

“Danny shrugs those off like all the good strikers and has a good partnership with Shane Long, who isn’t prolific but always gives teams problems.”

Case was also impressed with the aggression showed by James Ward-Prowse at right-back.

“He’s one I like, it’s not about getting stuck in like the old days but he makes his presence felt by harassing the opposition all the time.”

Now Case is hoping to see Liverpool go one better than in 1977, when the team he played in won the league and the European Cup but just missed out on the treble after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United.

“We missed out on it but the kids beating Shrewsbury means they’re still in the FA Cup so it can still be done,” he smiled.