Match Report
Alexander Isak scored his first goal for the club and Hugo Ekitike delivered the winner as Liverpool beat Southampton 2-1 in the Carabao Cup.
Isak, making his third appearance since arriving on deadline day, dispatched a Federico Chiesa set-up on the cusp of half-time in the third-round tie at Anfield.
That breakthrough came in the immediate aftermath of Adam Armstrong being foiled by the crossbar for Saints, who were a thorn to the hosts all night.
They levelled 14 minutes from the end courtesy of Shea Charles, but Ekitike ensured the Reds will be in Wednesday’s draw with a tap-in from another Chiesa assist.
Team
Arne Slot changed his entire starting XI from the preceding weekend win over Everton, and the new line-up included competitive Liverpool debuts for Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni.
Isak was deployed as the focal point in attack for his second Reds start.
First half
Before the game began, Anfield observed a minute’s silence in memory of Matt Beard, the former LFC Women manager, who suddenly passed away on Saturday.
Isak might have put the hosts ahead within 45 seconds of kick-off.
Joe Gomez won the ball high up the pitch and Curtis Jones’ pass into the area was touched off nicely by Chiesa to the Sweden international, whose finish was deflected off target by Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
The Championship visitors were unruffled, however, and a strong subsequent spell for Will Still’s side saw Armstrong rifle a strike from a cutback that Mamardashvili had to get palms on to tip behind.
It was proving a struggle for the Reds to get any flow into their football, though Chiesa tried to inject some zest into proceedings with a low snapshot that McCarthy got down to glove away from his near post.
Nathan Wood then blocked out the Italian as he brought down Rio Ngumoha’s delivery across the area and rasped another hit goalwards.
Gomez’s clearance from a Ryan Manning cross shaved the outside of the post ahead of a pivotal passage of play just shy of half-time.
Southampton sprung Armstrong in space and his dinked effort beat Mamardashvili but kissed the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly to Leo Scienza but he could only nudge wide.
Within seconds, Liverpool were in front.
Chiesa pounced upon a misjudged pass out from McCarthy and instantly squared to his left for Isak, who opened his Reds account with an assured strike and went off sliding in celebration.
Second half
Isak did not return to the pitch for the second half as his match fitness continues to be managed, with Ekitike introduced in the No.9’s stead.
Chiesa thought he had doubled Liverpool’s advantage one minute past the hour, only for the offside flag to quickly stifle his celebrations.
He had clinically thrashed the ball beyond McCarthy from an angle to the left of goal from Ekitike’s touch through. The assistant referee correctly spotted he had strayed too far forward.
Conor Bradley and Jayden Danns entered the fray from the bench, too, as Slot’s men continued to hold just a slender – but hitherto relatively untroubled – lead.
That changed on 76 minutes. Wataru Endo’s miscued header in an attempt to clear a Saints corner allowed Joshua Quarshie to find Charles, who hooked in from close range.
Ekitike flicked a header wide from Chiesa’s cross, before Leoni’s debut unfortunately ended prematurely with the centre-back having to be stretchered off due to an injury.
Liverpool would carve through to win with yet another late goal in minute 85.
Andy Robertson lifted a ball over the top for Chiesa and he in turn rolled across the goalkeeper for Ekitike to capitalise on a gaping net.
The scorer’s celebration included the removal of his jersey and an automatic second yellow card, though the Reds saw out the remainder to advance to round four.
SOURCE: www.liverpoolfc.com
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