Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott earned Liverpool a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night in a 2-1 win at Southampton.
The Reds earned passage into the final four on the south coast in battling fashion after taking a two-goal lead in the opening half.
Nunez and Elliott struck to hand Arne Slot’s men the advantage at the half-time interval, though saw their lead reduced on the hour mark through Cameron Archer.
Liverpool, however, put in an assured finish to the contest to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.
Team news
Trey Nyoni made his first start for Liverpool as Alexis Mac Allister returned after suspension, while there was also a start for Tyler Morton.
Rio Ngumoha was named on the substitutes' bench, as well as the returning Kostas Tsimikas following injury.
First half
It was a wet and windy evening on the south coast with the opening exchanges passing without real incident as both teams acclimatised to the conditions.
Liverpool, though, were dominating possession and holding the hosts to precious little in their own final third.
As the game carried on, the sides exchanged shots in the first chances of the night, Nunez first shooting wide from distance, before Tyler Dibling hit a low effort straight at goalkeeper Caiomhin Kelleher.
Nunez, however, was on hand to open the scoring in minute 24 after good work from Trent Alexander-Arnold in defence.
The No.66 remained calm and collected as he turned away from two Southampton attackers to play a ball forward for the onrushing Reds striker.
Nunez gathered after a deflection from the home defence and kept his nerve unchallenged to sweep home a finish from inside the area and break the deadlock.
Liverpool were continuing to enjoy their dominance with Elliott seeing a shot blocked and Nyoni heading wide of the goal at the back post.
It was Elliott, though, who was to add a second after the half hour mark for Arne Slot’s men, with the No.19 finishing off a slick team move forward.
The Reds combined in Southampton’s last third via Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo and it was the latter who found the run of Elliott with the midfielder producing a quick low finish into the back of the net.
Ahead of the end of the half, Mac Allister tested the reflexes of Alex McCarty in the home goal with a snapshot from inside the box but the stopper was equal to it.
Federico Chiesa and Tsimikas were introduced to start the second period with the departure of Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.
The game continued in similar fashion to the first with the Reds enjoying much of the ball over their opponents.
However, on the hour Southampton reduced the deficit during a swift break forward after the ball deflected off Endo and into the path of Cameron Archer.
With the No.3 on the floor, Archer raced forward on the left and cut in to curl a well-placed shot into the far corner of the goal.
Following the restart, Archer almost levelled instantly, but Kelleher provided a crucial intervention to push away his flicked effort from close range to keep Liverpool in front.
The Reds responded to the threat, Chiesa seeing a low shot across goal cleared away by the retreating defence.
Liverpool were managing the game well and keeping the hosts at arm's length, having to defend set-pieces in the main.
In the latter stages, though, the home side began to apply more sustained pressure, with substitute Paul Onuachu slipping at the vital moment as he attempted to convert a low cross from the left wing.
Chiesa threatened at the opposite end in search of a third, seeing a shot first cleared off the line, ahead of a follow up deflecting over the crossbar.
The Saints also saw late appeals waved away by referee Simon Hooper, Jarell Quansah and Mateus Fernandes first tangling outside the area, before carrying into the 18-yard box after a long ball over the top.
Liverpool, though, held firm to see out the victory and earn their place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
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