Ralph Hasenhuttl is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Kevin Danso and admitted the defeat at Burnley proves why Saints need more quality in the heart of their defence.

Saints completed a season long loan move for the 20-year-old on transfer deadline day and the Austrian international is due to link up with his new teammates at Staplewood as preparations begin for the game against Liverpool at St Mary’s.

It will be a big ask for Danso to get instantly up to speed in the Premier League, but the manner in which Saints conceded three quickfire goals to lose 3-0 to Burnley on the opening day of the season showed why Hasenhuttl wants reinforcements.

He said: “We will have a look and work with him during the week and show him how we want to play. He’s quick learning I think.

“It’s important for us to have more talent in the defence and this game showed that we have to.

“Finally I am happy that he is here.”

Saints should also have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg available for the game against the Reds after the captain fell ill on the coach on the way to the ground.

“He didn’t feel well. He was sick,” reported Hasenhuttl.

“He tried to give me an option but then he said he couldn’t eat anything and there was no chance. I said ‘maybe on the bench and if it’s necessary I need you for ten minutes or 20 minutes’ but it doesn’t really make sense and is not the best sign for the team if you then need him.

“Finally, six weeks hard work for this game didn’t work like we wanted to knowing that the schedule brings a lot of very tough games in the next weeks.

“We have to bring the heads of the guys up this week and try to find a better way to take points against a very good team next week.”

The Burnley game gave Che Adams a first Premier League start and Hasenhuttl reflected: “Not an easy game for him and he worked a lot in the first line for us against the ball.

“A little bit unlucky as he showed in pre-season that he can score for us but the balls we played in front were not precise so finally not an easy game for him.”

The match was also a first experience for Saints with VAR in the Premier League. It was called into action on a few occasions but quickly came to correct decisions.

“I haven’t seen the scenes so far so I cannot say positive or negative things,” said Hasenhuttl.

“The red card in the first half was a little bit strange because nobody demanded a red card, but I haven’t seen if the decisions were right or wrong.

“It didn’t take too long so I think it was ok.”