Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Núñez & Elliott score to send Reds into EFL Cup semis

Game is over and the final score is Southampton 1-2 Liverpool. Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott goals send Arne Slot's Reds into Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Match Event for Southampton vs Liverpool

15' Nunez's shot outside the box wide out!

19' Dibling's shot in the box saved by the keeper

24' Nunez puts Reds in lead! Southampton 0-1 Liverpool

32' Elliott scores as Gakpo assists! Southampton 0-2 Liverpool

36' Mac Allister's shot saved by the keeper

46' Alexander-Arnold & Gomez off, Tsimikas & Chiesa on

57' Yellow Card! Elliott & Downes booked

59' Archer scores one back for hosts! Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

60' Match Event for Southampton vs Liverpool

63' Jota & McConnell on, Gakpo & Mav Allister off

69' CLOSE! Chiesa's shot cleared by defender

74' Reds make mistake but Southampton miss the chance

79' Endo's dribbling stopped by Sugawara

83' Match Event for Southampton vs Liverpool

85' Nyoni off, Jayden Danns on

88' Brereton's header saved by Kelleher

90' Chiesa's shot blocked by defender again!

93' Match Event for Southampton vs Liverpool

Match Report

Holders Liverpool reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the third time in four seasons with a 2-1 win against managerless Southampton.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott did the job for Arne Slot's Reds, who advance to the last four, where they will face one of Arsenal, Newcastle or the winners of Thursday night's tie between Tottenham and Manchester United, which is live on Sky Sports.

The semi-final draw will be held at 10.30pm, following the conclusion of that match in north London.

Saints - who sacked Russell Martin shortly after Sunday's 5-0 humbling at the hands of Tottenham - were led by interim head coach Simon Rusk, who employed a particularly defensive approach at St Mary's; the 5-4-1 formation out of possession keeping the Reds at bay for more than 20 minutes.

Then Liverpool found a way through with their first shot on target. Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged a ball through the middle, which hit Jan Bednarek's outstretched leg and allowed Darwin Nunez to go through one-on-one and slot past Alex McCarthy.

Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 when Liverpool carved open their hosts' defence with ease, with Cody Gakpo slipping Elliott in to apply a simple finish.

Just before the hour, out of nowhere, Saints gave themselves a lifeline when Cameron Archer curled past Caoimhin Kelleher - and they almost levelled seconds later when Kelleher's reflex save kept out Archer's flick, before Jarell Quansah blocked the follow-up from Mateus Fernandes.

That woke a subdued home crowd up, as did the introduction of Paul Onuachu, who proved to be a handful up front with his towering presence.

Rusk also brought on Adam Lallana, Ben Brereton Diaz and Kamaldeen Sulemana, no doubt hoping all-out attack in the closing stages would bring the goal that forced penalties, but that was not to be as the Carabao Cup holders moved closer to another Wembley final.

Line-ups

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Bednarek, Ryan Manning, James Bree, Joe Aribo, Flynn Downes, Nathan Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Cameron Archer, Tyler Dibling, Mateus Fernandes

Subs: Lallana, Fraser, Paul Onuachu, Joe Lumley, Ben Brereton Díaz, Yukinari Sugawara, Ronnie Edwards, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw

Liverpool XI: W. Endo, Joe Gomez, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister, Darwin Núñez, Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni

Subs: Tsimikas, Jota, Chiesa, Vitezslav Jaros, James Norris, James McConnell, Jayden Danns, Amara Nallo, Rio Ngumoha