It wasn't the best perfomance, but at this stage of the season three points is all that counts.

That could be applied to any one of Arsenal, Tottenham or Manchester City on the opening weekend of the 2014/15 Premier League season.

But ex-Ireland international Kevin Kilbane was at Anfield for Liverpool's 2 - 1 win over Southampton for Off The Ball and that label certainly applied to the Reds' performances.

Kilbane was impressed by new centre-half partnership Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel, but was critical of Glen Johnson, believing that he "struggled" and mused whether the England international can stay ahead of Javier Manquillo in the pecking order.

Kilbane also revealed that Johnson was a player he relished facing during his own career:

"I played against him when he was at Portsmouth. If you allow him comfortable possession on the ball and space, then he'll do okay. But if you put him under pressure, I actually used to like playing against Glen Johnson. I used to like being up against him and the physical side I could put up against him when I used to play him," he explained. But he also pointed out the improvements Johnson has made, and the weaknesses that remain in his armoury.

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As for Southampton, Kilbane was not pleased with how manager Ronald Koeman deployed his former Ireland team-mate Shane Long when he came on as a substitute.

"It was waste of Shane Long," said Kilbane, after seeing the striker played in wide positions rather than through the middle where he felt Graziano Pelle did not bring physicality.

But Kilbane admitted that finishing is an area in which Long has the potential to improve upon.