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Arne Slot gamble pays off as Liverpool squeeze past Southampton into League Cup semis

kieran crichard
·27-min read
Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring Liverpool's first goal at Southampton in the League Cup
Darwin Nunez got Liverpool up and running with the game’s first goal at St Mary’s - Reuters/Matthew Childs

This is the one where Arne Slot gambled. The Slot machine chanced his arm and won. Again. The Carabao Cup is not high on the priority list for Liverpool, top of the Premier League and the Champions League, but a Wembley final is close and so they just about squeezed past Southampton and into the last four.

With anything resembling a full-strength side it would have been a canter. But the head coach left most of them back on Merseyside and still had enough to get through. Just. As Slot made even more changes, Southampton failed to take two outstanding chances to force the tie to a penalty shoot-out as they should have done.

They could also, possibly, have had a penalty deep into injury-time when Jarell Quansah had his arm over Manuel Fernandes as the midfielder ran onto a through ball, before falling in the area. Referee Simon Hooper waved play on and there is no Var in this competition. It may not have been a penalty but it could have been a red card.

“The moment you see two players colliding into each other you then you always wonder what the decision might be. In real-time I thought, ooh, he could make a different choice. But then I saw it back and I felt he just used his arm. For me, it wasn’t a foul,” Slot later said.

But it shows the confidence and position of strength Slot has that he could take such a risk, especially away from Anfield and especially as Liverpool are the holders of this competition. Not that it can be a priority this campaign, as their ambitions are raised, given the demanding fixture schedule.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis argues with referee Simon Hooper
Taylor Harwood-Bellis argues with referee Simon Hooper after Southampton were denied a late penalty - PA/Andrew Matthews

So the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Luis Diaz did not even travel to the south coast as they rested up ahead of Sunday’s crucial league game away to Tottenham Hotspur. Instead Slot took a squad with players aged 22, 21, 21, 21, 18, 18, 17 and even 16-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha.

“It would be normal if I play with all the regular starters that we have a better team than we had tonight!” Slot joked. “Otherwise, I make every week the wrong decision, which is maybe a possibility. But we also trust these players.

“I heard the fans singing for Trent (Alexander-Arnold) a song about the Scousers. I don’t know exactly what they sing, but it probably has to do with him coming from the academy as well. We have already a few starters from our academy.”

There was even an appearance for another winger, Federico Chiesa, who last played almost three months ago in another League Cup tie and went close to scoring with his shot cleared off the goal-line by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

After receiving three yellow cards, Slot was serving a touchline ban and was banished to the press box which he probably felt was double-punishment – even if he added it was warmer there than the touchline.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot watching the game from the stands
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was serving a touchline ban - Reuters/Dylan Martinez

Maybe it was another sign of his confidence but Slot also did not have a direct line of communication to the bench, depending on analyst Roderick van der Ham who was sitting next to him.

At half-time he would have felt even more at ease. Liverpool were 2-0 up – it could have been more – and so Slot even withdrew his captain for the evening, Alexander-Arnold. It meant his back-four had no first-choice players in it with Wataru Endo having started at centre-half – he had played there before for Japan and in the Bundesliga - and Tyler Morton at right-back.

Southampton were wounded and managerless following the sacking of Russell Martin with caretaker Simon Rusk stepping up from the Under-21s. “I am guessing I will get some communication as to how the next couple of days will look,” he said when asked whether he will take the team this weekend. “I didn’t see it as something I would enjoy tonight. We have all put ourselves under scrutiny to perform.”

Indeed Southampton looked like a side that felt sorry for itself in that first period and there were ironic cheers as goalkeeper Alex McCarthy went long with his goal-kicks. That is anathema to Martin.

And yet they still made unforced errors - as with Liverpool’s first goal. And they are still to easily beaten through the centre - as with their second. The Southampton fans had goaded Darwin Nunez with a chant of “you’re just a s--- Andy Carroll” as he skied an early shot and the Uruguayan evidently knows his history of pony-tailed Liverpool strikers as he cupped his ear and put his finger to his lips after scoring.

It came as Jan Bednarek attempted to cut out Alexander-Arnold’s pass only for the ball to spin into Nunez’s path. Suddenly he was clear goal, McCarthy hesitated, slipped and Liverpool were one-up.

As the Liverpool fans ran through their repertoire of songs, their team scored again. It was far too easy with Cody Gakpo sliding the ball through and Harvey Elliott beating McCarthy.

At times Liverpool almost played at walking pace. It was that comfortable and then Mateus Fernandes’ pass smacked Endo in the face and rebounded to Cameron Archer who had space down the left. He ran on, shifted the ball to his right and curled a shot beyond Caiomhin Kelleher and high into the net.

Seconds later Kelleher saved superbly from Archer before substitute Paul Onuachu miscued in front of goal. He should have scored. Instead Liverpool and Slot rode their luck and cashed in.

10:29 PM GMT

More from Slot, speaking to the BBC

“It was not easy circumstances to play in because of the wind of course, but it was a very good and important win for our team. We saw a lot of players that maybe do not start, we saw a lot of players that have had an impact already, so for us to have these players playing games is important.

“It does not matter too much what your back line is if you have the ball as much as we did in the first half. Then you have control. Second half the control was not there as much so your defenders are exposed, especially if they are not defenders.

“We handled it really well and only conceded one or two chances. The second half was not as good as the first but it was enough in the end to bring the win over the line.”

10:27 PM GMT

The thoughts of Arne Slot, talking to Sky

“First half really good, good performance and we were 2-0 up. It did not come as a complete surprise to concede the goal as before that we started to get a bit sloppy. They then came back into the game but later on we had chances to make it 3-1. We did not which is why it was tight to the end. We have to defend the trophy as the club won it last season. I was not involved but the players were. We want to compete for every trophy.

“You have a very good view from the stands! Sometimes it is difficult though when you want to influence your players but I have amazing staff.”

10:22 PM GMT

Travelling Liverpool fans will go home happy

10:19 PM GMT

Slot machine marches on

Liverpool are top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League and now into the League Cup semi-finals in defence of their Carabao Cup crown. Arne Slot has now won 20 of his first 24 games in all competitions in charge of Liverpool.

10:16 PM GMT

Elliott got Liverpool’s second and his first of the season

He was also named man of the match.

10:11 PM GMT

Arne Slot’s side into the semi-finals

He watched from the stands tonight as he was serving a touchline ban and his side, who are the defending champions, can look forward to the semi-finals.

Arne Slot walking down through the stands after the game
Arne Slot will be back on the touchline on Sunday against Tottenham - Dylan Martinez/Reuters

10:08 PM GMT

Nunez got Liverpool’s first

10:08 PM GMT

View from the Liverpool camp

10:02 PM GMT

Defending champions into the semi-finals

Liverpool players celebrate beating Southampton
Liverpool through - Matthew Childs/Reuters

10:00 PM GMT

Match stats

Possession: Southampton 31%- 69% Liverpool

Shots: 6-14

Shots on target: 4-4

Corners: 3-7

Touches in opposition box: 14-17

09:56 PM GMT

Tonight’s quarter-final results

Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace

Newcastle 3-1 Brentford

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool

Tottenham host Manchester United in the final quarter-final tomorrow.

09:54 PM GMT

Full time

There is the final whistle and Liverpool are through to the League Cup semi-finals. Goals from Nunez and Elliott see Liverpool past Southampton, who did get a goal back in the second half through Archer.

09:52 PM GMT

90+5 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Elliott blazes over an effort from just outside the box.

Into the final 60 seconds we go on the south coast.

09:50 PM GMT

90+3 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

McCarthy launches a long ball forward and Quansah lets it bounce. Fernandes goes down wanting a free-kick whilst challenging with Quansah but referee Simon Hooper waves those appeals away. There is no VAR tonight so the on-field decision will stand.

09:48 PM GMT

90 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

McConnell is booked for a foul on Fernandes.

Moments later Chiesa is denied twice inside the Southampton box by two great blocks. The first from Harwood-Bellis denied a certain goal as it was curling into the far corner.

There will be six added minutes.

09:46 PM GMT

89 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Fernandes finds Brereton Diaz at the back post and his header is saved by Kelleher pretty easily. The flag had gone up anyway against Brereton Diaz.

09:44 PM GMT

87 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Southampton have a corner on the left as Morton heads behind from a long throw by Manning. The corner is sent in by Fernandes but the delivery has too much on it and goes behind for a goal-kick past the far post.

09:42 PM GMT

85 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are making their final change as Danns replaces Nyoni.

09:41 PM GMT

84 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Sulemana drives a cross from the left into Onuachu, who makes an absolute mess of his shot from around eight yards out and the chance is gone. That was a big chance for the hosts.

Double Southampton change as Brereton Diaz and former Liverpool man Lallana replace Aribo and Bednarek.

09:37 PM GMT

80 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Into the final ten minutes we go at a very wet St. Mary’s.

09:33 PM GMT

76 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Endo is fine to continue and is back on.

Wataru Endo holding his shoulder
Midfielder Wataru Endo has been deployed as a centre-back tonight - Dan Mullan/Getty Images

09:31 PM GMT

74 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Southampton have a free-kick inside the Liverpool half which they will send into the box. Fernandes whips it into the path of Onuachu but he is flagged offside. Endo is currently down receiving some treatment on his shoulder.

09:29 PM GMT

72 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Southampton are making a double change as Onuachu and Sulemana replace Archer and Downes.

09:26 PM GMT

68 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

So close for Liverpool. Jota drives towards the Southampton box and lays it off to Chiesa on the right-hand side of the box. It looks like a cross rather than shot but Harwood-Bellis, with Elliott right behind him, does really well to divert it behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

09:20 PM GMT

63 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are making a double change as Jota and McConnell replace Gakpo and Mac Allister.

09:19 PM GMT

61 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

A dangerous cross is sent in from the right by Sugawara and he picks out Archer, who is expertly denied at point-blank range by Kelleher from inside the six-yard box.

09:18 PM GMT

60 mins: Southampton 1 Liverpool 2

Bree has managed to continue for around 10 minutes but now his race is run as Sugawara replaces him.

09:16 PM GMT

GOAL! Archer gets goal back for hosts

It is lucky but Southampton will not care. A ball forward hits Endo in the face and it falls straight into the path of Archer, who drives towards the Liverpool box. He takes it into the box, cuts onto his right and picks out the far corner. Liverpool allowed him too much space to cut inside and get his shot away.

09:14 PM GMT

57 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Downes and Elliott have come to blows and both receive yellow cards. There was a scuffle in midfield as Liverpool were breaking forward. I am not sure why Elliott was booked as Downes was just cynically preventing Elliott from joining the Liverpool attack.

The referee shows a yellow card to Flynn Downes and Harvey Elliott
Two yellows at once - Dan Mullan/Getty Images

09:08 PM GMT

51 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Liverpool take the corner but Mac Allister’s delivery goes over everyone. Bree is going to try to carry on. That is a surprise.

09:07 PM GMT

49 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Tsimikas plays a good ball into the channel to try and find Gakpo but Bree steps in with a crucial interception inside his own box to put it behind for a corner. However Bree immediately clutches his groin and goes down. He is going to have to come off.

09:04 PM GMT

46 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

With Alexander-Arnold going off, it appears Morton has shifted from the midfield into right-back. Elliott has also moved deeper into the midfield, with Chiesa coming on to play wide right for Liverpool.

09:02 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way on the south coast. Liverpool have made two changes at the break as Chiesa and Tsimikas are on for Alexander-Arnold and Gomez.

08:57 PM GMT

View from the stands

Arne Slot has been sat up in the stands and, making his way down to the dressing room at half time, will be happy with his side at the break.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot making his way down from the stands
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is serving a touchline ban this evening - Matthew Childs/Reuters

08:53 PM GMT

Tonight’s quarter-finals

Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace (67’)

Newcastle 2-0 Brentford (47’)

Southampton 0-2 Liverpool (HT)

08:52 PM GMT

Match stats

Possession: Southampton 27%- 73% Liverpool

Shots: 1-7

Shots on target: 1-3

Corners: 1-3

Touches in opposition box: 2-10

08:47 PM GMT

Half time

Manning’s free-kick is overhit and that will be that for the first half. Liverpool lead 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Nunez and Elliott.

08:46 PM GMT

45+1 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Southampton win a free kick, which Elliott was extremely unhappy at being penalised for, that they can send in on the stroke of half time. They then win another free kick closer to goal, which will be the final act of the half.

08:45 PM GMT

45 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Southampton win a corner on the right as the last touch came off Endo, despite his protestations. It is sent to the back post by Manning but referee Simon Hooper blows his whistle for a free-kick to Liverpool.

There will be one added minute at the end of this first half.

08:42 PM GMT

41 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

Fernandes cuts back onto right foot just before the byline on the left-hand side of the box and tries to pick out Dibling at the back post but Dibling slips over and cannot get on the end of it.

08:36 PM GMT

36 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 2

So close to a third for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold perfectly picks out Mac Allister on the edge of the box and the Argentinian hits it first time. McCarthy does brilliantly to get down to his left to push it behind for a corner, which does not come to anything.

08:32 PM GMT

GOAL! Elliott adds Liverpool’s second

Arne Slot’s side are 2-0 to the good and it is a well-worked goal. Gakpo exchanges a one-two with Endo and then finds Elliott on the edge of the box. Elliott takes one touch and then gets his shot away. It takes a small deflection and nestles in the bottom left-hand corner. That is Elliott’s first goal of the season.

08:32 PM GMT

30 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1

Gakpo is found in space on the left-hand side of the box and perhaps he should shoot but he looks for a teammate. He finds Elliott, whose shot is really well blocked by a sliding Harwood-Bellis.

08:27 PM GMT

26 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1

Gakpo tries to get to the byline and sends in a cross but is taken down by Bree. Liverpool have a free-kick just outside the box on the left just before the byline. Liverpool take it short and Alexander-Arnold sends it in but Southampton deal with it.

08:24 PM GMT

GOAL! Nunez gives Liverpool the lead

He has been a bit of a peripheral figure tonight but Nunez has the visitors ahead. Alexander-Arnold plays a ball forward and Bednarek gets a touch on it but only succeeds by helping it into the path of Nunez making the run in behind the Southampton backline. McCarthy does not come out of his goal and stumbles a little, allowing Nunez to calmly slot it past him.

Liverpool have scored with their first meaningful effort at goal. “You’re just a s--- Andy Carroll,” sang the Southampton fans after Darwin Nunez’s finish with the Uruguayan cupping his ear in celebration. He clearly knows his history of pony-tailed Liverpool centre-forwards.

08:20 PM GMT

19 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Fernandes feeds it into the path of Dibling, who has Southampton’s first effort of the night on the right-hand side of the box but his shot is tame and straight at Kelleher.

Tyler Dibling takes on a shot
Southampton are looking to bounce back from a terrible 5-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday that cost Russell Martin his job - Dylan Martinez/Reuters

08:19 PM GMT

18 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Gakpo slides a ball into the channel for Nunez but Bednarek comes in with a well-timed sliding challenge inside the Southampton penalty area to deny Nunez.

08:16 PM GMT

16 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Downes cynically takes down Gakpo but escapes a yellow card. The weather, if it could, has got worse with the rain coming down even harder.

08:15 PM GMT

15 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

After neat play in the centre of the pitch, Nunez fires a shot well off target from just outside the box. Liverpool are unhappy as Mac Allister was blocked off but nothing given.

08:14 PM GMT

13 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Gakpo cuts in from the left and tries to float in a cross to the far post but it is too heavy. The wind is certainly making things more challenging tonight.

There were ironic cheers from the home fans when goalkeeper Alex McCarthy took a goal-kick long - a clear reference to Russell Martin’s brave insistence that Southampton always played the ball out from the back. This is the first match since Martin was sacked as manager and interim boss Simon Rusk is taking no chances even against a weakened Liverpool. It is 5-4-1.

08:10 PM GMT

10 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool win the first corner of the night as Bree pushes it behind when tackling Gakpo. Mac Allister sends it in but there is too much on it and it goes behind for a goal-kick. A waste from the Argentinian there.

James Bree challenges Cody Gakpo for the ball
It is pouring down on the south coast - Getty Images

08:06 PM GMT

5 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Arne Slot spoke in his press conference about getting creative in defence with Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley injured and Andrew Robertson suspended. Midfielder Wataru Endo was named in the lineup at centre-back. In possession though he is pushing into a central midfield position, which is his more customary position. Out of possession he is lining up alongside Quansah at centre-half.

08:03 PM GMT

3 mins: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Simon Rusk has been named as interim boss at Southampton and so far they are lining up with a back five, a bank of four in front and Archer up top on his own.

The weather is still absolutely filthy on the south coast.

Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk before the game
Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk - Andrew Matthews/PA

08:01 PM GMT

1 min: Southampton 0 Liverpool 0

Southampton have a free-kick a matter of seconds into the game as Quansah hauls down Archer five yards outside the penalty area on the left. Manning sends it in but it misses all of his teammates and that is a real waste.

For Liverpool Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and a host of other first-team starters have not even travelled to the south-coast while head coach Arne Slot, serving a touchline ban, was banished to the press box. He must have felt he was being doubly-punished.

Arne Slot sat in the stands as he is banned from the touchline
Slot serving his touchline ban - Getty Images

08:00 PM GMT

Kick-off

We are off and running on the south coast.

07:56 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at St. Mary’s.

07:52 PM GMT

Reminder of the team news

Southampton: McCarthy, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Manning, Downes, Fernandes, Aribo, Dibling, Archer.

Substitutes: Lumley, Edwards, Sugawara, Lallana, Fraser, Amo-Ameyaw, Sulemana, Brereton Diaz, Onuachu.

Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Morton, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez.

Substitutes: Jaros, Chiesa, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Nallo, Ngumoha, Danns, Norris.

07:48 PM GMT

Miserable weather on the south coast

07:46 PM GMT

Goal at the Emirates

An early goal in north London and it has gone to the visitors as Jean-Philippe Mateta has given Crystal Palace the lead. You can follow that game right here.

07:42 PM GMT

Route to the quarter-finals

Southampton:

  • Second round: Cardiff 3-5 Southampton

  • Third round: Everton 1-1 Southampton (5-6 on penalties)

  • Fourth round: Southampton 3-2 Stoke

Liverpool:

  • Third round: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham

  • Fourth round: Brighton 2-3 Liverpool

07:40 PM GMT

No VAR tonight

A reminder that there is no VAR tonight for the quarter-finals. I suspect many will see that as a relief but maybe some of who would prefer to see it in use. Should it be used all the way through or not at all? Remember you can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.

07:35 PM GMT

Start for 17-year-old Trey Nyoni in Liverpool’s midfield

Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni warming up
Arne Slot makes eight changes to his Liverpool side tonight - Dylan Martinez/Reuters

07:30 PM GMT

Carabao Cup action tonight

The first of the quarter-finals has just begin at the Emirates as Arsenal are hosting Crystal Palace, which you can follow right here.

At 7.45pm Newcastle kick off against Brentford and we have you covered with that match as well.

07:27 PM GMT

Visitors arriving

07:19 PM GMT

Endo to start at centre-back?

Interesting team news from Liverpool and it looks like midfielder Wataru Endo will play as a make-shift centre-half if a much changed line-up from Arne Slot (there are eight changes from the side that drew 2-2 in the Premier League at home to Fulham last Saturday). It had been thought Endo might play right-back but Slot has selected Trent Alexander-Arnold. For Southampton’s caretaker head coach Simon Rusk it is pretty much the strongest line-up he has available - and why not? This may well be his only game in charge before a permanent successor to Russell Martin is appointed.

Liverpool's Wataru Endo arriving ahead of the game
Arne Slot hinted that he might be creative with his lineup and Wataru Endo has swapped his usual midfield position for centre-back - Getty Images

07:14 PM GMT

Full team news

Southampton have made three changes from Russell Martin’s final game in charge, a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday. James Bree, Nathan Wood and Cameron Archer replace Kyle Walker-Peters, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Adam Armstrong, who is suspended. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is still not to return from injury.

Southampton: McCarthy, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood, Manning, Downes, Fernandes, Aribo, Dibling, Archer.

Substitutes: Lumley, Edwards, Sugawara, Lallana, Fraser, Amo-Ameyaw, Sulemana, Brereton Diaz, Onuachu.

Arne Slot makes eight changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Fulham on the weekend. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo retain their places as Slot has rested the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Alisson Becker. Andrew Robertson is suspended but Alexis Mac Allister is back from his ban. 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni starts and there is a youthful look to their bench including 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Morton, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez.

Substitutes: Jaros, Chiesa, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Nallo, Ngumoha, Danns, Norris.

Inside the Liverpool dressing room ahead of their game against Southampton
16-year-old Rio Ngumoha is on the Liverpool bench tonight - Andrew Powell/Getty Images

07:06 PM GMT

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07:01 PM GMT

Southampton team news

07:00 PM GMT

Liverpool team news

06:56 PM GMT

League Cup quarter-finals

Tonight: 

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (7.30pm)

Newcastle vs Brentford (7.45pm)

Southampton vs Liverpool (8pm)

Tomorrow: 

Tottenham vs Manchester United (8pm)

06:48 PM GMT

Arne Slot speaking during his pre-match press conference

On his touchline suspension:

“It should impact me because if you are suspended in Holland you are not allowed to be in and around the dressing room or do media. This is a lighter version of suspension. I would say I am used to it but this is the first time I am suspended.

“I am still able to do the things I want to do. The least impact you have on your team is during the 45 minutes and the most is during halftime and before the game.

“I got a yellow that I probably deserved again.”

On Caoimhin Kelleher:

“Number two goalkeeper is one of the most difficult jobs in football if the first-choice goalkeeper is always available. Because you work for the whole season and do not start.

“Unfortunately but good for him, he has already had quite a lot of minutes. He can look at the first half of the season as a positive for himself. We as a club hope that those players are available for the second half of the season so he does not make as many minutes.

“We are really fortunate to have such a great second goalkeeper that if we need him, he is able to do as well as he did.”

06:41 PM GMT

A place in the League Cup semi-finals awaits

Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to managerless Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool, who won this competition last season, were on the south coast in the last round as they overcame Brighton 3-2 whilst Southampton beat Stoke 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals. Liverpool are top of the Premier League and at the summit of the Champions League table. Head coach Arne Slot, who will serve a touchline ban tonight, is not surprised that his side are competing on all fronts.

“I expected [to be at this stage]. This is normal for Liverpool. To be fighting for every trophy, stay in the cups and go all the way. It happened last season when we won it.

“I am not surprised that we are competing for four trophies. But it is a challenge because we have a lot of competition with other teams. For the Carabao Cup, if you look at the teams that are still in it, none of them are going to be an easy road to the final.”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot looks on in the dugout before their match against Fulham in the Premier League
Liverpool are defending champions in this competition - Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Liverpool will be without left-back Andrew Robertson, who is suspended after his red card in the league on Saturday against Fulham. Kostas Tsimikas could return from injury but will continue to be without Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley. They will welcome back Alexis Mac Allister after one-game suspensions both domestically and in the Champions League. Diogo Jota returned from injury in the draw against Fulham, scoring the equaliser, but is not expected to start tonight. Arne Slot has confirmed that Caoimhin Kelleher will start in goal.

Russell Martin was sacked by Southampton after a heavy 5-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday. Following Martin’s sacking, Under-21’s boss Simon Risk has been named as interim manager on a temporary basis and has spoken about his pride of taking charge, even if it is very short-term.

“This is a great honour for me, I have worked at the club since the summer and it has great tradition with a loyal fanbase. The right thing for me to do is focus on the job at hand – it will be a proud moment for me no doubt. I am solely focusing on Liverpool. Communication has been very clear and I am sure we will know after Liverpool.”

Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk speaking during a press conference
Russell Martin gone at Southampton, Simon Rusk in interim charge - Matt Watson/Getty Images

Adam Armstrong is suspended and they could welcome back goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from injury.

These sides met in the league at St. Mary’s towards the end of last month with Liverpool running out 3-2 winners.

Team news to follow shortly.