Match reportLiverpool beat Southampton to earn place in Carabao Cup semi-finals

Arne Slot’s men opened up an advantage of two by the half-time interval, with a close-range Nunez finish followed by Elliott wrapping up a slick move via a slight deflection.

The Reds’ lead was reduced just shy of the hour mark at St Mary’s as Cameron Archer dispatched a curler, but they saw out the contest to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.

Team news

Trey Nyoni made his first start for Liverpool and Alexis Mac Allister returned after suspension, while there was also a place in the XI for Tyler Morton.

Rio Ngumoha was named on the substitutes’ bench, as was left-back Kostas Tsimikas following an injury.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez (Tsimikas, 46), Endo, Nunez, Mac Allister (McConnell, 63), Gakpo (Jota, 63), Elliott, Alexander-Arnold (Chiesa, 46), Quansah, Morton, Nyoni (Danns, 86).

Unused subs: Jaros, Nallo, Ngumoha, Norris.

First half

On a wet and windy evening on the south coast, the opening exchanges passed without real incident as both teams acclimatised to the conditions.

Liverpool, though, were dominating possession and holding the hosts to precious little in their own final third.

The first chances of the night involved Nunez shooting wide from distance and, at the other end, Tyler Dibling hitting a low effort straight at goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

But Nunez was on hand to open the scoring in minute 24 after good work from Trent Alexander-Arnold from the back.

The No.66 remained calm and collected as he turned away from two Southampton attackers to play a ball forward for the onrushing Reds striker.

Nunez gathered after a deflection from the home defence and kept his nerve unchallenged to sweep home a finish from inside the area and break the deadlock.

Liverpool were continuing to enjoy their dominance, with Elliott seeing a shot blocked and Nyoni heading wide of the goal at the back post.

And Elliott added a second after the half-hour mark for Slot’s men, the No.19 finishing off a slick team move forward.

The Reds combined in Southampton’s last third via Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo, the latter found the run of Elliott and he produced a quick low finish into the back of the net, benefiting from a touch off an opponent along the way.

Ahead of the end of the half, Mac Allister tested the reflexes of Alex McCarthy in the home goal with a snapshot from inside the box, but the stopper was equal to it.

Second half

Federico Chiesa and Tsimikas were introduced to start the second period, replacing Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.

The game continued in similar fashion to the first period, the Reds controlling much of the ball over their opponents.

However, on the stroke of the hour, Saints reduced the deficit during a swift break after the ball deflected off Endo and into the path of Archer.

With the No.3 on the floor, Archer raced forward on the left and cut in to curl a well-placed shot into the far corner of the goal.

Following the restart, Archer almost levelled instantly, but Kelleher provided a crucial intervention to push away his flicked effort from close range and keep Liverpool in front.

The Reds responded to the threat, Chiesa seeing a low shot across goal cleared away by the retreating defence.

In the latter stages, the home side began to apply more sustained pressure, with substitute Paul Onuachu slipping at the vital moment as he attempted to convert a low cross from the left wing.

Chiesa threatened at the opposite end in search of a third, seeing a shot first cleared off the line, ahead of a follow-up deflecting over the crossbar.

Southampton also saw late appeals for a dangerous set-piece waved away by referee Simon Hooper after Jarell Quansah and Mateus Fernandes tangled close to the edge of the box.

Liverpool, though, held firm to see out the victory and continue their defence of the trophy into the New Year semi-finals.