Liverpool signed off for the World Cup break with a win over Southampton.
Roberto Firmino gave Jurgen Klopp’s side an early lead by meeting Andy Robertson’s whipped free kick with a looping long-range backwards header.
The visitors struck back within minutes through Che Adams pouncing upon a James Ward-Prowse set piece to glance past Alisson in front of The Kop.
But the Reds regained the upper hand midway through the first half as an incisive pass from Harvey Elliott teed up Darwin Nunez for a volleyed finish.
The Uruguay international doubled his tally just moments before the interval courtesy of a sliding finish from Robertson’s cutback across the face of goal.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Reds flying ahead of World Cup
The World Cup break arrives at the best and worst possible time for Liverpool.
Four straight victories in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side marks their best run this season to date while coinciding with the Qatar-induced hiatus.
This game could have conceivably gone either way during a first half when the visitors repeatedly carved open the Reds’ defence on the counter attack.
Yet several of the Reds’ World Cup-bound players set down markers for their winter sojourn by producing flying performances at both ends of the pitch.
Darwin Nunez continued his impressive purple patch with a two-goal haul while continually offering an outlet of potential assists to his teammates.
The Uruguayan is set to link up with his homeland in a stronger position than if this year’s tournament was still held in its traditional summer timeslot.
Alisson’s goalkeeping heroics after the interval, meanwhile, ensured Liverpool preserved a two-goal cushion despite Southampton’s renewed ascendancy.
A shutout on his 150th Premier League outing will doubtless have Brazil coach Tite watching intently from a distance ahead of next week’s tournament start.
For the next six weeks, world football’s gain will be Anfield’s loss.
Klopp endures a watching brief
A touchline ban had denied Klopp the chance to sign off in trademark style.
The Football Association’s successful appeal against his £30,000 fine for being sent off in the win over Manchester City arrived on the eve of this fixture.
So, for the first time in his seven-year spell, the German found himself forced to take in events on the pitch from a sedentry position in the directors’ box.
Liverpool’s opener raised a smile from their manager while Che Adams’ leveller reduced Klopp to a stony-faced glare beneath his baseball cap.
Nunez redressing the balance prompted a different reaction altogether as Klopp began relaying messages through to his backroom staff down below.
Upon hearing the final whistle, he quickly moved pitch side to congratulate his players and coaching team on their final competitive outing for six weeks.
Suffice to say, he will eagerly await a return to that usual vantage point.
Robbo redefining gold standard
An afternoon of milestones appeared inevitable against the Saints.
James Milner’s introduction in place of Harvey Elliott midway through the second half saw him rack up a mammoth 600th Premier League appearance.
Unfortunately for the veteran utility man, the headline feat had already been claimed before the interval as Andy Robertson joined his own elite group.
A whipped free kick for Roberto Firmino’s sixth-minute opener saw the Scotland captain seal the joint-highest number of assists in top-flight history.
Only Everton icon Leighton Baines can currently hold a candle to Robertson’s impressive haul of 53 pinpoint deliveries which have led directly to goals.
That, however, is where similarities between the left-backs abruptly end.
Robertson has accumulated his personal tally in half the time that Baines took to amasse his own during a combined 15-season stay in the Premier League.
It is now only a matter of time before he becomes the sole gold standard.