Will Smallbone capitalised on a mix-up in the Reds defence to put the Saints ahead in first-half stoppage-time.
However, the hosts seized control of the contest with an early second-half surge. Darwin Nunez levelled, slamming home from Luis Diaz’s cut-back before winning a penalty, which was clinically dispatched by Mohamed Salah.
Salah then successfully converted a second spot-kick in the 88th minute to eradicate any doubt about the outcome.
With Arsenal not in action until Sunday when they travel to Manchester United, the victory extended Liverpool’s gap at the summit to 16 points with nine games remaining for Arne Slot’s side.
**Team news…**
Liverpool made three changes from the midweek victory over Paris Saint-Germain in France.
Curtis Jones, Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas came back into the starting line-up, replacing Diogo Jota, Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson.
_Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Szoboszlai (Mac Allister, 46), Nunez (Jota, 68), Salah, Jones (Elliott, 46), Tsimikas (Robertson, 46), Gravenberch (Endo, 81), Alexander-Arnold (Quansah, 90)._
_Unused substitutes: Kelleher, Chiesa, McConnell._