LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp labelled Saints a ‘really good club’ after St Mary’s rallied around their relegated team and spurred them on to an impressive - if meaningless - 4-4 draw with the Reds.

In front of a virtually sold-out crowd, Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.

But Saints hit back and James Ward-Prowse scored his ninth goal of the Premier League campaign before Kamaldeen Sulemana notched a brace either side of half-time to give the hosts their first lead of the afternoon.

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Adam Armstrong then came off the bench to make it 4-2 before Liverpool recovered to take a point through Cody Gakpo’s back-post tap-in and Jota’s second of the game.

Speaking after the full-time whistle, Klopp reflected on a thrilling end to a disappointing season for both sides while highlighting the impressive Saints atmosphere.

“I really felt from the first second today that Southampton is a really good club,” Klopp said. 

“When you see the people - after getting relegated which is obviously the worst thing you want to happen - and then the atmosphere is like that today, I have to say that’s pretty special. I like that a lot.

“But we were 2-0 up and you know the Southampton players want to pay back to the people - and we let them. 

“We opened the door for a really talented offensive team. With the speed they have, with their counter-attacks. 

“I can make a list of things we weren’t and that led to the counter-attacks they had and the goals. It’s 2-2 and then 4-2 and then we started doing the right things again and then it was more or less spectacular.”

Some Saints fans will have watched the pulsating attacking performance with a sense of regret, a feeling of ‘what if’ considering the team’s generally unambitious approach to the relegation battle.

But in the individual performances of Charly Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana - amongst others - they showcased the impressive talent still in this squad even if Saints are to lose the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia.