Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
A double from El Hadji Diouf and a last minute penalty from Danny Murphy ensure that Liverpool took maximum points from their first home match of the new season.
It took Diouf just 2 minutes and 56 seconds of competitive football at Anfield to net his first goal, and it was courtesy of some excellent play by Gerrard and Heskey.
An inch perfect 50 yard pass by Gerrard found Heskey on the left side of midfield, and after a touch of fortune in being able to get past Paul Telfer, Heskey delivered a superb cross to the far post, where Diouf managed to get his chest to the ball and knock it into the net.
Michael Owen looked to have doubled the lead later in the half, but after Murphy's free kick had come back off the bar only for the rebound to be despatched by Owen, the goal was ruled out through offside.
Owen soon had another chance to grab his first goal of the season, but after making space for himself, Owen's weak shot was comfortably saved by Paul Jones.
Southampton's main threat came down the left hand side, with Abel Xavier having a poor first half in the right back position, but the Saints were unable to really trouble Dudek.
Liverpool went into the break with a 1-0 lead, just as in the same fixture last season. But unlike last season, the Reds refused to sit on that lead, and they immediately went looking for a second goal at the start of the second half, and Diouf was again on target within minutes of the kick off.
A long throw into the box by Abel Xavier was flicked on by Heskey, and Diouf headed in at the far post from only a couple of yards out.
Southampton came close to getting back into the game, with an overhead kick by Michael Svensson needing a goalline clearance by Murphy to keep
Liverpool's clean sheet intact.
But the scoring was completed in the final minute. Vladimir Smicer played a pass throught he Southampton defence, and Cheyrou's run towards goal was ended when he was brought down by Wayne Bridge.
With Diouf and Owen both having left the pitch, Danny Murphy stepped up to take the kick, and made no mistake in putting his name on the scoresheet.
Smicer could have netted a fourth in injury time, but a good save by Paul Jones kept out his close range shot.
It was Diouf who stole the headlines though, while Liverpool opened up an early lead over fellow Championship rivals, Man United and Arsenal, both of whom could only draw their first away games of the season.
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