LIVERPOOL boss Arne Slot feared a dramatic late twist before his side edged into the Carabao Cup semi-finals by holding on for a 2-1 win.

With the hosts pushing to force a penalty shootout, Reds defender Jarell Quansah appeared to haul down the clean-through Mateus Fernandes.

Just outside the 18-yard box during six minutes of added time, referee Simon Hooper waved away passionate appeals from home supporters.

VAR - which has not been kind to Saints this season - is not in use at this stage of the cup so the Premier League leaders escaped retrospective action.

“The moment the ball is over the top you’re not nervous but the moment you see two players colliding into each other, you always wonder what the decision might be,” said Slot, who was watching from the stands due to a touchline ban.

“In real life, I thought, ‘ooh, he (Hooper) could have made a different choice', but then I saw it back and I felt he (Quansah) just used his arm. It wasn’t a foul for me, but you never know with refereeing decisions, do you?”

However, Rusk, whose press conference followed the Dutchman, had a different interpretation, saying: "I've only seen it one angle at the moment.

"I think you can get it, you cannot get it that one. I probably need to see it from a couple more angles before I'm more conclusive about my opinion.

"But I felt my natural instinct was it was a foul. We didn't get the rub of the green at the end of the day and we didn't get it, so we moved forwards."

Saints were also on the wrong end of a controversial decision in November's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at St Mary's in the Premier League.

Adam Armstrong, who was suspended for Wednesday's cup clash, was denied a penalty despite Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher clattering into him.