Liverpool have defeated Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's Stadium to move within two points of the top four in the Premier League.
Goals in either half from Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling proved the difference for Brendan Rodgers's side, who have now gone 10 games unbeaten in the top flight.
The game got off to an explosive start with the hosts seeing a strong shout for a penalty turned down with less than a minute on the clock after Filip Djuricic - making his first start for the club - appeared to be bundled over by Emre Can inside the box.
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That proved to be a pivotal moment as referee Kevin Friend waved away appeals, and just two minutes later the ball was in the back of the net up the other end courtesy of a long-range strike from Coutinho.
Having picked up the ball some 30 yards from goal, the Brazilian took range with a shot which swerved beyond Fraser Forster into the top corner via the crossbar.
It was Southampton's turn to attack once more as the frantic opening stages continued on the South Coast, although Eljero Elia could not direct his attempt goalwards following a scramble inside the area.
Chances proved to be few and far between for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes as both teams took turns to control possession, and it was not until the brink of half time that the next clear-cut opportunity arose.
Elia was involved once more, chasing down a long ball which Simon Mignolet did well to read, yet the Liverpool stopper looked to have handled the ball outside his area before clearing the danger.
The call went against the Saints yet again, however, as the visiting side took their slender lead into the interval.
Southampton, who boasted a four-point lead over their opponents coming into this game, produced a decent team move in the early stages of the second period which culminated in Graziano Pelle dragging a tame shot wide of the target.
Some good defending from Martin Skrtel saw the centre-back twice deny Ronald Koeman's men, first to block Sadio Mane's shot, before heading clear from the resulting corner.
Things turned a bit scrappy once more as the teams began to cancel each other out, but it was Liverpool who came closest to adding the game's next goal at the end of a weaving run from substitute Daniel Sturridge, with only Maya Yoshida's well-timed tackle denying him a shot on goal.
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The all-important second goal did arrive just moments later, though, as Sterling capitalised on Matt Targett's weak clearance to fire home from 12 yards out.
Liverpool remained professional for the remaining 17 minutes of the match to see out the win, bagging all three points which leaves the race for a Champions League berth wide open.
Daniel Lewis
