Liverpool struggled to escape with a point after going behind thanks to ex-Chelsea striker Kerry Dixon's first goal for new club Southampton.
With Dean Saunders away in the Midlands discussing his proposed transfer to Aston Villa, Liverpool would have been dead and buried but for the generosity of another former Anfield striker, David Speedie, who hit the bar and missed three good chances for Southampton.
Matthew Le Tissier floated the ball over Liverpool's static rearguard for Dixon who ran in unmarked to sidefoot the ball home after 51 minutes.
Liverpool skipper Mark Wright equalised nine minutes later soaring to meet Jan Molby's free kick with a looping header into the top corner.
Molby had seen a shot well saved by keeper Tim Flowers after just four minutes, but from then on the best chances of a scrappy first-half fell to Southampton.
Dixon robbed hesitant David Burrows after 17 minutes and delivered a curling cross to the far post. It looked like a formality for the inrushing Speedie to score but he somehow missed the target.
Then after 34 minutes Micky Adams ended a left wing run with a deep raking cross which Le Tissier met sweetly on the volley with a right-foot shot that narrowly cleared the bar.
Liverpool should have equalised within two minutes of Dixon's strike, Ronnie Whelan failing to connect with Jamie Redknapp's cross on the goal-line. Flowers got across with time to parry Ian Rush's follow-up effort. Then Speedie headed against the crossbar from Adams' cross after 56 minutes.
In the closing stages substitute Michael Thomas hit the post from Steve McManaman's cross, Rush glanced a header wide and Flowers saved well from Steve Harkness as Liverpool pushed for a winner their overall performance did not deserve.
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