The Reds march on despite Southampton’s courageous resistance

Liverpool moved into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 win over Southampton on Wednesday evening.

Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott scored in the first half for a much-changed Reds side without Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah.

Cameron Archer pulled one back when Southampton were under the caretaker boss Simon Rusk after the dismissal of Russell Martin, tried to mount a courageous comeback after the break.

But it was Arne Slot’s team that progressed and wants to defend their Carabao Cup title.

Until @Carabao_Cup Semifinals! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nzszAMwu7Z

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 18, 2024

Due to a touchline ban imposed after his third yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Fulham, Slot watched from the stands at St Mary’s.

And the Liverpool coach would have been largely happy with the early sighting as the Reds were quickly able to assert their possession dominance.

Youngsters Tyler Morton and 17-year-old Trey Nyoni, making his first senior start, got a lot of the ball, but the league leaders’ penetration was hardly in the way.

For Southampton, one of the most contentious issues of Martin’s tenure this season has been the insistence on playing out from the back.

The fact that loud cheers rang out throughout the stadium every time the Saints cleared their ranks was a pretty telling indication of the fans’ feelings on the matter.

So there was a certain cruel irony in Liverpool’s opening goal coming from a long ball from distance.

Trent Alexander-Arnold provided an assist of sorts when Jan Bednarek misfired his high pass into the path of Nunez.

Liverpool’s number nine needed one touch of the ball before passing Alex McCarthy. Since there was no VAR until the semi-final, the goal stood and Nunez spun away in celebration.

It didn’t take long for Elliott to score his first goal of the season when he completed an incisive pass down Liverpool’s left side.

Harvey Elliott scores his first goal of the season! 💫 pic.twitter.com/OksUKPUySa

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 18, 2024

For Southampton, who have conceded quickly from behind so often this season, it all felt painfully familiar.

Alexis Mac Allister then made a clever save from McCarthy to deny the third, but Liverpool were in full control at the break.

Southampton came into the game with a bit more momentum in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Cameron Archer halved the deficit with a brilliant finish just before the hour mark.

Cameron Archer, what a goal! 😍 pic.twitter.com/Z3gq5r9NUT

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 18, 2024

It suddenly gave life to the hosts. Caoimhin Kelleher’s reflexes were put to the test when Archer came close again moments later.

It seemed like a real cup tie was possible. With their tails up, Southampton looked far more lively.

They missed a few half-chances without ever really testing Kelleher.

Jarell Quansah was perhaps lucky not to see red when he brought down Mateus Fernandes late on. In the end, Liverpool progressed but had to sweat a win that looked like it was inevitable in the first half.

Southampton’s brave second-half performance earned much applause from the crowd in the final stages. Signs that there may still be some fighting on this side.