Harry Redknapp finally registered his first Barclays Premiership win as Southampton manager after his side took glorious advantage of a horror show by Liverpool.

Two up in 22 minutes, the south coast team recorded their third league win of the season thanks to goals by David Prutton and Peter Crouch - his third in consecutive games.

There could have been more as former West Ham and Portsmouth boss Redknapp, in charge for his eighth Saints league game, posted his first-ever triumph as a manager at St Mary's.

Steven Gerrard was passed fit and his return was one of eight changes in Rafael Benitez's side following the shock FA Cup exit at Burnley in midweek.

Fernando Morientes, Milan Baros, Luis Garcia and Mauricio Pellegrino were all back in the starting line-up for Liverpool, who had new £750,000 goalkeeper Scott Carson among the substitutes.

But Saints had new £2.1million signing Nigel Quashie ruled out with a knee ligament injury sustained in training in his first week away from local rivals Portsmouth. Anders Svensson filled his place, with Trinidad & Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones on the bench.

It became clear early on that Peter Crouch would have to plough a lone furrow up front for Saints who, with Kevin Phillips injured, packed the midfield.

But after Baros failed to make contact with Jamie Carragher's cross, a careless error by Pellegrino gave David Prutton the opening to give Saints a fifth-minute lead.

The Argentinian was under no pressure to clear a Southampton attack but instead he scuffed the ball straight back to Prutton who, hardly believing his luck, pressed on deeper into the penalty area before firing past Jerzy Dudek.

There was just one real moment of alarm when Baros, chasing a through ball towards the right-wing corner flag, turned it back into the centre when Gerrard chested it down and fired over.

That was soon forgotten as Southampton cruised into a 2-0 lead on 22 minutes when Crouch was granted the freedom of the Liverpool penalty area to head home at the far post from Prutton's right-wing cross.

Crouch's height was causing Liverpool problems at the back and the accuracy of Prutton's crosses was another factor in their misery, and the former headed just off-target from the latter's centre in the 28th minute.

Gerrard tried to get a Liverpool attack going but only succeeded in setting Rory Delap clear with only Dudek to beat. However, the Republic of Ireland player's effort was straight at the Polish stopper.

Gerrard produced a better effort when, fed by Baros, he hit a low 18-yard drive which Antti Niemi had to get his body behind.

Jamie Redknapp was booked for a bad tackle but he was doing a super job for Saints up against Gerrard in midfield.

Another good move saw Crouch shoot on the turn after a good run by Delap but fired straight at the well-advanced Dudek.

Liverpool sent on young Frenchman Florent Sinama-Pongolle in place of Stephen Warnock at the start of the second half but stuck to a 4-4-2 formation.

The newcomer made a promising start with a right wing run and cross that nobody could reach.

But referee Alan Wiley infuriated Southampton by awarding a Liverpool goal kick when Delap appeared to have a good case for a corner, and then interrupting play to book Dietmar Hamann for a foul when Southampton were in good possession.

Liverpool, however, were stepping up their efforts and Luis Garcia tested Niemi before Morientes shot just wide.

And referee Wiley awarded a free-kick for Baros when the striker went down like a sack of potatoes as Calum Davenport challenged in the air.

Liverpool won a more legitimate free-kick after 56 minutes just five yards outside the area.

Hamann set up Gerrard for a rising shot that grazed the top of the bar as it flashed over.

Morientes fired wastefully over on the hour as the visitors began to create more openings.

Prutton, however, was a busy figure for the home side, with lung-bursting runs to join Crouch in attack, and he was in position to fire a half-volley that spun away for a corner.

Liverpool suffered a blow when key defender Sami Hyypia limped off in the 67th minute to be replaced by youngster David Raven.

Raven survived a penalty appeal in the 71st minute when he appeared to nudge Crouch but the referee was having nothing to do with it.

Baros and Morientes were off target and Pongolle failed to get the ball back from the left with several team-mates queuing up to finish.

Gerrard, typically, battled to the end and was just wide after another lung-bursting run with nine minutes to go.

You could not fault Southampton who had planned their strategy and finished their chances with a convincing flourish.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson (Jakobsson 76), Prutton, Delap, Redknapp, Anders Svensson (Jones 89), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Oakley, Smith, Ormerod.

Booked: Redknapp.

Goals: Prutton 5, Crouch 22.

Liverpool Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia (Raven 67), Pellegrino, Warnock (Sinama Pongolle 45), Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann (Biscan 78), Riise, Baros, Morientes.

Subs Not Used: Traore, Carson.

Booked: Hamann, Luis Garcia.

Att: 32,017

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).