Liverpool secured their place in the League Cup semi-finals for a record 20th time with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over managerless Southampton at St Mary’s on Wednesday night.
Liverpool Edge Southampton to Book 20th League Cup Semi-Final Berth
In a competition that has seen them crowned champions 10 times, the Reds once again showed their pedigree, even as they made wholesale changes to the squad.
Darwin Nunez, under scrutiny for a lackluster season so far, opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a clinical finish. The chance arose from a defensive mishap by Jan Bednarek, whose failed clearance of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass gifted Nunez the opportunity.
For the Uruguayan, it was a moment of redemption, marking only his fourth goal of the campaign after six games without finding the net.
Just eight minutes later, Harvey Elliott doubled Liverpool’s lead with a composed strike from 12 yards out. The 20-year-old midfielder, a beacon of youthful energy, notched his first goal of the season, rewarding manager Arne Slot’s faith in his abilities.
Slot, who watched the match from the stands while serving a touchline suspension, continues to impress since his arrival from Feyenoord, with the Reds winning 20 of their 24 matches under his leadership.
Southampton, struggling to find their rhythm under caretaker boss Simon Rusk following Russell Martin’s dismissal, showed some fight in the second half.
Cameron Archer’s sublime curling effort in the 59th minute brought the hosts back into contention and gave the home fans a glimmer of hope.
Their optimism turned to frustration when a late challenge by Jarell Quansah on Mateus Fernandes went unpunished, with Southampton’s appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee.
Liverpool’s decision to rest key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk did little to dampen their resolve, as their understudies rose to the occasion.
The victory served as a response to their surprising 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Premier League last weekend, reaffirming their dominance in domestic cup competitions.
For Southampton, this defeat marked yet another blow in a turbulent season, while Liverpool march on, their sights firmly set on another League Cup triumph
