Southampton 1 – 2 Liverpool

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.

He nearly got his wish late on, Quansah grappled with Fernandes outside the area, with the Portuguese going down inside the box – but referee Simon Hooper immediately waved away appeals for a red card and, with no VAR, the decision stood.

Should Quansah have been sent off?

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff:

“It’s a foul, absolutely. A free-kick and a red card. The minute Quansah allows that ball to bounce he’s bang in trouble.

“Quansah has just got to get to the pitch of the ball and just get something on it. He doesn’t and now he’s all over Fernandes, drags him down and Kelleher is not going to get there so Fernandes would be the one getting onto that. For me, it’s a really poor decision.”

Sky Sports’ Izzy Christiansen:

“It’s the wrong decision. He should’ve been sent off, but it wasn’t a penalty.”

Elliott shines in Liverpool midfield

Sky Sports’ Declan Olley:

On his first start since May, Elliott shone in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Southampton.

The midfielder scored what proved to be the winning goal with a clinical low first-half finish.

Even at the age of 21, Elliott was one of the more experienced players in a youthful team and he led by example in midfield.

The Englishman made the most passes in the final third (21) in the game as he put in a player-of-the-match performance.

“He’s been outstanding,” said Sky Sports‘ Don Goodman. “Not just the goal, his all-round work ethic with and without the ball. An excellent game.”

Now Elliott will be hoping his performance can earn him a starting spot in the Premier League to become more of a regular under Slot.

Rusk hopeful second-half performance can inspire Saints

Southampton‘s interim head coach Simon Rusk:

“Our priority going into the game was to be hard to beat, given the nature of the game on Sunday. So I think we probably expected in some way, shape or form that we might not have the footprint in the game we wanted in the first half. The priority for us was to get in at half-time and make sure we’re in the game, as a basic principle, and then grow into it.

“The nature of the first goal is a little bit unfortunate, really, but I thought, in the second half, the guys stood up to it, didn’t wilt and grew into the game. Maybe on another day we’d go and nick the second.

“There wasn’t much time to turn this game around and you can only work on so much. You can’t overload them with information when there’s going to be adaptation and change anyway. I’m really encouraged by the second half. That’s what we have to focus on now.

“They showed belief in themselves, they showed character, they stood up, the fans were behind them and I think, hopefully, that second half is enough of a catalyst for the guys.

“Listen, I’ve only seen it [the Quansah foul] from one angle at the moment. I think you can get it, you cannot get it, that one. I probably need to see a couple more angles before I’m a little bit more conclusive about my opinion. But, I felt my natural instinct was it was a foul.”

Slot: We have to defend Carabao Cup crown

Liverpool manager Arne Slot to Sky Sports:

“We have to defend the trophy because the club won it last season. I wasn’t involved, but the players were. And Jurgen [Klopp], of course, with his staff.

“We want to compete in every league, and this is one of them. So we’re happy that we reached the semi-final. Although we’re also aware of Newcastle, Arsenal, and either Tottenham or Manchester United.

“It’s always a tough competition, but this time for sure.”

How was it in the stands? “You have a very good view. It’s not the first time that I sit there. Sometimes I go to the stadium just to enjoy a game, so you always have a better view than when you are down.

“But sometimes it’s difficult where you want to influence your players, but I have such a good staff that even when I wasn’t around, they were able to bring this game over the line.”

What’s coming up for Southampton and Liverpool?