Ralph Hasenhüttl admitted Southampton were lacking in the decisive moments, as title contenders Liverpool mounted a comeback at St Mary's to beat them 2-1.
Despite taking the lead through Nathan Redmond's stunning strike on 13 minutes, Saints were unable to capitalise, and goals in each half from former loanee Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip ensured the visitors claimed three points that keeps their hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy alive.
"We had a fantastic start today, exactly what we wanted," said Hasenhüttl. "We scored a beautiful goal from Reddy, then you defend in and around the box in a certain way and the pressure was coming more, and then we conceded too easily the first goal, I must say.
"Then the second half they had one or two good ones where they don't score, and we had then a corner against us where we can clear the ball at the near post and we don't do it. Very unlucky the goal we conceded, but it's a little bit showing what happened in the last weeks, in the decisive moments not good enough in defending and then you get punished in the Premier League.
"We didn't want to get exposed, because they still have a lot of quality on the pitch and a lot of speed when they attack and you lose the ball.
"We wanted to come quick behind the ball when we lose it, not high pressing today, try to sit a little bit deeper and I think especially until the first goal we conceded it worked quite well. We had them under control, they had a lot of possession and this was clear they would have it anyway, but in and around the box we were quite well organised and it's a pity we conceded these two goals."
Hasenhüttl added: "We had a few good moments when we played out and against a good pressing team this is not so easy, but in the end it was a tough game for us. A few things worked quite well, and in the end it's a pity we don't take a point."
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