ST MARY'S STADIUM, SOUTHAMPTON // Liverpool cruised into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott on the scoresheet, Trey Nyoni putting in an accomplished first-half performance, and Federico Chiesa coming off the bench.

By half-time, Liverpool was well on the way to booking its place in Thursday's draw for the last four. On an all-round positive night for Arne Slot, who was watching on from the stands, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez only got 45 minutes with the weekend's trip to Spurs in mind, and Kostas Tsimikas returned from injury to provide a defensive boost.

Cameron Archer pulled a goal back in the second half, but Southampton never truly sustained enough pressure to worry the Reds. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

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Arne Slot's triple boost

Harvey Elliott scored and was generally a good performer for Liverpool here. This was his first start under Slot and he kept things simple on the wing and then in midfield, always available for a short pass or a quick one-two.

He returned in terms of being a starter, and Federico Chiesa came back from a spell on the sidelines, entering the fray at the break. Having the pair back adds plenty to the depth that Liverpool has in forward areas — as does Diogo Jota, who got around half an hour.

Kostas Tsimikas got half the match, too, providing a much-needed defensive boost. He has been sidelined lately with a knock picked up in training, but looked sharp enough here. It was timely, given Andy Robertson was suspended. Winning was important, but so too was getting some much-needed minutes into some key players' legs, and those who came in did well enough.

Darwin Nunez scoring was a boost beyond the three players who made a substantial return from injury. He played relatively well, took his goal as you would expect and without any fuss, and ran his socks off. He needs to at least maintain that moving forward, though it would be a shock to see him start at Spurs. Responding to the usual Andy Carroll chants in the best way — by finding the back of the net — that was a big positive.

Defensive swaps pay off

From left to right, Liverpool began the night with a backline that read: Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Japan captain has played as a defender for Stuttgart, but this was the first time he has slotted in there for the Reds (on paper, he played there; in reality, he was almost exclusively able to step into midfield).

More than 85 per cent of his minutes in the Carabao Cup had come in this competition (it will be well over 90 per cent now) and so Endo would just have been happy to be getting some time on the grass.

Alexander-Arnold, on his 300th appearance for his boyhood club, captained the side for the time he was on — something that he might do a lot more often if he pens a new contract to remain at Anfield beyond the summer of 2025 — and strolled through 45 minutes. In an ideal world, he, like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, might have been given the night off. Injuries, though, got in the way of that happening.

It was a makeshift defense but it was more than comfortable for the majority of the game. Tyler Morton moved into it at half-time and the Liverpool team was no less secure. Cameron Archer netted a belter but Caoimhin Kelleher was barely involved.

Young players take their opportunity

Jurgen Klopp always gave a pathway for young talents and Arne Slot has the same view. If Trey Nyoni looks ready enough, he is therefore old enough. He tired in the second half here, but was trusted to stay on regardless.

For James McConnell, Amara Nallo, Rio Ngumoha, Jayden Danns and James Norris, meanwhile, who were all named on the bench, this was another positive experience for them. Two of them (McConnell and Danns) entered the field, but even those who didn't were part of the matchday squad on an Academy-heavy night.

Showing that there is a pathway is of huge importance. Ngumoha was convinced to join Liverpool as a result of exactly that in the summer and the next version of the 16-year-old might well cite games like these as the reason they opted to go with the Reds over their other options.

Morton has been in the Liverpool team more often than any of them — and at 22 and with two years under his belt in the Championshipship — is more experienced than any of the other young talents, but this was a chance for him too. He did well enough, playing out of position for the half the game to help the team. Each of the younger stars will benefit from their minutes, whether their long-term future lies at Anfield or not.

Southampton changes, but Liverpool too strong

Without now-fired Russell Martin at the helm, it was notable that Southampton played the ball longer at times. Fewer risks were taken, which was wise in the swirling wind. In the first half, at least, every time it was knocked long, there was an ironic cheer from a significant portion of the home support.

Even with eight changes and Liverpool playing a mixture of kids and experienced stars out of position, though, the Reds had too much. There was a bit of a late push from the host when Liverpool was at its most makeshift (Quansah, Southampton might argue, could have been sent off) and there was only one goal in it, but Slot's side held out. Tomorrow, it will discover its semi-final opponent.