Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images

A look back at the key moments in Liverpool’s good enough victory over Southampton in League Cup action.

Southampton 1 - 2 Liverpool

Saints: Archer 59’

Reds: Nunez 24’, Gakpo 32’

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Pre-Match

Arne Slot sends out a relatively strong squad tonight. The only true youngsters are Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni. This is really the last off-ramp for Liverpool: either win the thing or go out before the two-legged semifinal. I’d prefer we win it, but going out also isn’t the end of the world.

First Half

Simon Fucking Hooper is the ref tonight, and it only takes a few seconds for him to rub his two braincells together and decide to give a free kick in a dangerous area from a tissue-soft foul from Quansah. It’ll be a long night if that’s the standard.

It is not easy going out there for either side. The wind is causing pretty much any airborne pass to miss its intended target, often by many yards, and the rain has so thoroughly soaked the pitch that things aren’t that much easier along the floor.

However! Darwin Nunez grabs the opener for the Mighty Reds! Trent attempts to play a long through ball for the striker. It is nearly cut out, but the defender’s deflection takes it right into the path of the Uruguayan striker, who takes a touch and slots.

And Harvey Elliott makes it 2-0 to the Scousers! Gakpo receives the ball in the middle of the pitch, just out side of the box, and plays Harvey in. Elliott takes a touch and finishes coolly with his right foot.

After the second goal, you got the impression that both sides would love nothing more than to shake on 2-0 and cancel the second half. Unfortunately, there’s still another 45 minutes to go.

Second Half

Kostas Tsimikas and Federico Chiesa return to action as halftime subs, coming on for Trent and Gomez. It looks like Morton has been shifted to right back, Harvey to midfield, and Chiesa as right wing.

Southampton pull one back out of nowhere, and I guess we no have a football match on our hands?

A few minutes later Jota comes on for Gakpo and James McConnell for Mac Allister.

Some nervy moments for Liverpool as the match enters its last ten minutes or so, and now it’s starting to feel like a proper cup tie as the home side has a proper go. Liverpool bring on their final sub: Jayden Danns for Nyoni.

Chiesa very nearly opened his Liverpool account with a curler to the far post, but it was cut out at the last moment by a Southampton defender. Unlucky!

Final Thoughts

It wasn’t a pretty second half, but it was enough to get the job done. The Reds are on to the semifinals of the League Cup.