Francis Benali says his former club Southampton's chances of securing a top-four finish are slipping away due to a lack of goals.

Southampton missed the chance to move back into the Champions League places - remaining fifth in the table - following Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool.

Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling scored as the Saints suffered their fourth home loss, a result that leaves the visitors just one place further back in the table.

Benali told the Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ: "They have struggled and (Graziano) Pelle has lost his goalscoring touch at the moment, they were the better side in my opinion.

"But Liverpool were clinical in their finishing and Southampton are struggling to score at the moment and that is what has dropped them down the table slightly.

"Ronald Koeman and Southampton have got to find a way to break teams down because they have earned the respect of other sides. The opposition are not just coming gung ho to play them, they are being a little bit more defensive, especially when they come to St Mary's.

"Southampton are are struggling to score at the moment and that is what has dropped them down the table."

Francis Benali

"So Southampton have got to find a way to try and get around that and obviously score the goals.

"They have slipped away in recent weeks for sure, yesterday was a huge game and a huge opportunity to cement a place in third position in the Premier League and it tightens the gap with Liverpool closing in there as well.

"Southampton are still very much in the mix, anyone from Tottenham, in seventh place, and anyone above them have got a great opportunity to secure a Champions League position

Saints boss Koeman confirmed that Sadio Mane was dropped from the starting line-up against Liverpool because he arrived late for the game.

The 22-year-old Senegal winger was named on the substitutes' bench after arriving half an hour late at St Mary's and Benali has backed Koeman's decision to drop him.

He said: "I agree with Koeman in that there is obviously a code of discipline, he's a wonderful footballer, and saw some action as a substitute yesterday, but it's a good shout from Ronald to do that.

"It sends a message out to the entire squad that he won't stand for any nonsense, he is sticking a stake in the ground to say, 'I'm the boss and I am not going to accept sloppiness'.

“I don't know the exact reason Mane gave for why he was late but I like to see that in a manager.”