Owners Liverpool reached their third Carabao Cup semi-final in four seasons with a 2-1 win over managerless Southampton.
Goals from Darwin Nunes and Harvey Elliott did the trick for Arne Slott’s Reds, who are through to the last four, where they will face the winners of Arsenal, Newcastle or Thursday night’s Tottenham-Manchester United game, which is live. Sky Sports.
The semi-final draw will take place at 10.30pm after that game in North London.
saints – who sent Russell Martin off shortly after Sunday’s 5-0 defeat against Tottenham. – led by interim head coach Simon Rusk, who had a particularly defensive approach at St Mary’s; A 5-4-1 formation kept the Reds out of possession for over 20 minutes.
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Darwin Nunes celebrates after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s header during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
Liverpool then found their way through with their first shot, Trent Alexander-Arnold chipping the ball into the middle which hit the outstretched leg of Ian Bednarek and allowed Darwin Nunes to go one-on-one and head past Alex McCarthy.
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Harvey Elliott scored Liverpool’s second goal against Southampton without a manager
It was 2-0 after eight minutes as Liverpool easily opened up the hosts’ defense and Cody Gakpo slipped Elliott inside for a simple finish.
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Cameron Archer scores for Southampton with a superb strike
Just before the hour, out of nowhere, the Saints gave themselves a lifeline when Cameron Archer curled past Caoimhin Kelleher, and they almost equalized seconds later when Kelleher’s reflex save kept out Archer’s shot before Jarrell Quansah blocked Matheus Fernandes’ follow-up.
That fired up the subdued home crowd, as did the introduction of Paul Onuachu, who proved a handful up front with his powerful presence. Rask also brought on Adam Lallana, Ben Brereton Diaz and Kamaldin Suleimana, no doubt hoping the full attack would produce a goal in the closing stages. , which forced penalties.
He almost got his wish late on, Quansah clashed with Fernandez off the pitch and the Portuguese went down inside the box, but referee Simon Hooper immediately dismissed appeals for a red card and, without VAR, the decision stood.
Should Quansah have been removed?
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Liverpool’s Jarrell Quansah appears to have brought down Southampton’s Mateus Fernandez in the Saints’ 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Liverpool, however referee Simon Hooper dismissed the appeal
Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff.
“It’s an absolute foul. A free kick and a red card. The minute Quansah lets the ball bounce, he’s in trouble.
“Quansah just needs to get to the ballpark and just get something on it. He doesn’t, and now he’s all Fernandez, pulling him down, and Kelleher isn’t going to get there so Fernandez is the one to show up.” It’s a really bad decision for me.”
Sky Sports’ Izzy Christiansen.
“It’s a wrong decision, he should have been sent off, but it wasn’t a penalty.”
Elliott shines in Liverpool’s midfield
Elliott celebrates Liverpool’s second goal at Southampton.
Sky Sports’ Declan Olley.
In his first start since May, Elliott shone in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Southampton.
The midfielder scored the winner with a clinical low finish in the first half.
Even at 21, Elliott was one of the most experienced players in the youth team and he led by example in midfield.
The Englishman made the most assists in the final third of the game (21), playing man of the match.
“He was great,” he said Sky Sports“Don Goodman.” “Not just the goal, his whole work ethic with and without the ball. Excellent game.”
Elliott is now hoping his performances can earn him a starting spot in the Premier League to become more of a regular under Slot.
Rask’s encouraging performance in the second half could inspire the Saints
Southamptontemporary head coach of Simon Rusk:
“Our priority going into the game was to win hard given the nature of Sunday’s game. So I think we probably anticipated in some way, shape or form that we might not have the mark we wanted in the game. The first half was a priority for us to go into the break and make sure we were in the game as a fundamental and then grow.
“The nature of the first goal is a bit unfortunate, really, but I thought in the second half the boys stood up, didn’t wither and grew into the game. Maybe we could have gone for the second one on another day.
“There wasn’t a lot of time to turn this game around. You can’t overload them with information, though. That’s what we’re going to be focusing on in the second half now
“They showed belief in themselves, they showed character, they stood up, the fans got behind them and I think the second half is hopefully enough of a catalyst for the boys.
“Listen, I’ve only seen it (the Quansah breach) from one angle. I think you can get it, you can’t get that one. I’ll probably have to see a few more angles before I can.” a little more convincing about my opinion, but I felt that my natural instinct was that it was a violation.
Slot: We have to defend the Carabao Cup crown
Liverpool manager Arne Slot: to: Sky Sports:
“We have to defend the trophy because the club won it last season. I wasn’t involved, but Jurgen (Klopp) was involved, of course.
“We want to compete in all the leagues and this is one of them. So we are happy to get to the semi-finals. Although we are also aware of Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester United.
“It’s always a tough competition, but this time for sure.”
How was it in the stands? “You have a very good view. It’s not the first time I sit there. Sometimes I go to the stadium just to enjoy the game, so you always have a better view than when you’re down.
“But sometimes it’s difficult where you want to influence your players, but I have such a good squad that even when I wasn’t around they managed to pull this game out.
