Liverpool continue to enjoy the view from the top of the Premier League, but everything would have looked so much better for Jürgen Klopp and his players if they had shown the same ruthless touch in front of goal that had carried them to the summit. Instead Liverpool departed the south coast ruing the missed opportunities that checked their momentum and allowed Southampton to escape with a point.

Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané, Liverpool’s exhilarating attacking trident, all found themselves in promising positions during a one-sided contest, but the combination of some excellent goalkeeping from Fraser Forster and wayward finishing prevented the visitors from capitalising on their dominance.

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It was certainly not for a lack of trying. Klopp was like a cheerleader at times as he danced around on the touchline, throwing his arms in the air and urging his players on as they poured forward in search of a breakthrough. The Liverpool manager’s desperation for the goal that would have extended their lead at the top of the table also shone through in the substitution that brought Daniel Sturridge on to replace Emre Can and that so nearly produced a reward.

Nine minutes from time, Sturridge wriggled clear on the left with a neat piece of footwork and floated a deep and inviting centre towards the back post. It was a former Southampton player on the end of the cross, but probably not the one that Klopp would have chosen. Nathaniel Clyne, from about eight yards out, headed inches wide of Forster’s far upright.

“It was a brilliant situation. Unfortunately for Clyney he was the most surprised person maybe in the stadium,” Klopp said.

“This could have been a goal. Roberto could have scored, Phil could have scored, Sadio in the first half, so we had these moments, but that’s good.

“I am fine with the performance, absolutely. We could gave scored, maybe we should have scored, but that’s how football is and very often in my life my teams lost games like this when we were so much better and had much more chances. We didn’t lose today because we stayed concentrated, and that’s very important for us.

“Everybody could see this season that on a very good day we are able to score fantastic goals. But today was much more difficult. Then, staying in the game is the best news we can get. So I am not happy, but I’m fine.”

Klopp, however, ought to have been feeling much better than fine at the end of a damp and cold afternoon in Southampton. It was one-way traffic as Saints sat deep and Liverpool moved the ball with confidence.

Klopp’s team enjoyed 65% of possession, made 663 passes compared with Southampton’s 371, registered 15 shots on goal against Southampton’s three and were 8-1 winners on the corner count. Liverpool, in short, did everything but put the ball in the back of the net and only time will tell whether the two points that slipped through their fingers here prove costly.

Southampton were grimly holding on at times, aided by Forster’s goalkeeping and another impressive display from Virgil van Dijk. As an attacking force they offered little, with the isolated Charlie Austin’s second-half header a rare chance for the home team in what was essentially a backs-to-the-wall performance.

Liverpool’s first presentable opportunity arrived in the 28th minute, when Mané, returning to St Mary’s for the first time since his £34m move to Anfield in the summer, swept a curling, powerful shot that was arcing towards the top corner until Forster flicked it over the crossbar with his fingertips. Mané escaped again moments later, but Van Dijk got across superbly to block.

While Van Dijk was fortunate not to be punished for tugging Firmino’s shirt shortly after the interval, Liverpool only had themselves to blame for the profligacy that followed.

Coutinho, set free by Firmino after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had carelessly given away the ball, sliced wide with only Forster to beat. José Fonte had made up plenty of ground to put Coutinho under pressure, but it was still a position from which the Brazilian would have expected to score.

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The same was true for the golden opportunity that Firmino squandered in the 66th minute, with Coutinho this time the provider. Darting runs from Mané and Georginio Wijnaldum opened up space for Firmino, who was beautifully found by Coutinho’s measured pass, yet the striker steered a low shot with the outside of his boot just wide of Forster’s far post.

Can later dragged a low shot wide, Clyne headed off target and Firmino’s effort was repelled by Forster as Southampton just about stood firm.

“We played a very good team,” Claude Puel, the Southampton manager, said. “When they lose the ball they recover it very well. It’s difficult to develop our game. Today, we have won one point.”