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Liverpool 2 – 1 Southampton – EFL Cup 3rd Round Postmortem

With the sting of last season’s final defeat still lingering, Liverpool set out to begin their League Cup campaign in earnest. Arne Slot rotated completely, handing chances to fringe players and youth alike, but the third-round tie against Southampton was anything but straightforward and the Reds are lucky to be in the 4th round draw.

The Starting Eleven

Arne Slot rotated smartly but still named a strong side. Giorgi Mamardashvili started between the posts, with Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, and Andy Robertson forming the back four. Curtis Jones partnered with Wataru Endō in midfield, while 18-year-old Trey Nyoni was handed a start in the controlling role. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha flanked Alexander Isak up top.

Substitutes: Hugo Ekitike (for Isak, 45’), Conor Bradley (for Jones, 57’), Jaydan Danns (for Ngumoha, 75’), Milos Kerkez (for Leoni, 81’).

Goals and Assists

Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton – Alexander Isak (Federico Chiesa) – 43’

Liverpool 1 – 1 Southampton – Shea Charles (Joshua Quarshi) – 76’

Liverpool 2 – 1 Southampton – Hugo Ekitike (Federico Chiesa) – 85’

Match Statistics:

Possession – Southampton 61% | Liverpool 39%

Total Shots – Liverpool 10 | Southampton 13

Fouls – Liverpool 8 | Southampton 12

Corners – Liverpool 3 | Southampton 6

Saves – Liverpool 2 | Southampton 2

Red Cards: Hugo Ekitike (2 yellow cards) – 86’

First Half

An expectant Anfield crowd settled in to watch a youthful but ambitious Liverpool side. The early stages saw Southampton dominate possession, but Liverpool carried the greater threat when they broke forward. Federico Chiesa was the clear danger, repeatedly driving at his marker and creating panic in the away defence. The breakthrough came just before the interval, as Chiesa shut down deep possession down the flank and delivered a superb cut-back for Alexander Isak to finish with typical composure. It was a goal that underlined both the Italian’s quality and the Swede’s sharpness.

Second Half

The second period brought chaos and drama. Southampton pressed higher and tested Mamardashvili, who pulled off a couple of strong saves before eventually being beaten by Shea Charles’ equaliser. At 1-1, nerves crept into Liverpool’s game, yet Chiesa again rose to the occasion. His determination carried him through the Saints’ lines, before squaring for substitute Hugo Ekitike to tap home the decisive strike.

But joy turned to disbelief within moments, due to a moment of stupidity. Ekitike, already booked for petulantly kicking the ball away, tore off his shirt in celebration and earned an avoidable second yellow. The dismissal left Liverpool clinging on for the final minutes, and matters worsened when Giovanni Leoni limped off injured after a heavy challenge. With the back line reshuffled, the Reds had to dig deep to see out the contest.

Final Thoughts

This was a night of contrasts: Chiesa shone as Liverpool’s talisman, Isak looked bright and clinical, and young Trey Nyoni showed poise well beyond his years. Yet Ekitike’s foolish dismissal frustrated both his manager and the supporters, while Giovanni Leoni’s late injury leaves worrying questions ahead of a busy run. Liverpool, however, marches into the next round of the EFL Cup, and Slot will take encouragement from the resilience shown under pressure.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 4 – 1 Southampton

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