Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott secure a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

In a thrilling encounter at St Mary’s Stadium, Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez was the star of the show, celebrating his side’s first goal as the Reds secured a 2-1 victory over Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals. This win sees Liverpool advance to the semi-finals, continuing their pursuit of silverware this season.

Managerless Southampton, under the temporary guidance of caretaker Simon Rusk, fielded a makeshift starting XI due to the recent dismissal of Russell Martin. Despite the upheaval, the home side struggled to find their rhythm against a determined Liverpool team, who are keen to maintain their momentum across all competitions.

Nunez opened the scoring in the 24th minute, capitalising on a long pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. The striker showcased his pace and precision, netting just his fourth goal of the season. The Merseysiders doubled their lead just before half-time, with Harvey Elliott marking his first start of the season with a well-taken goal, finishing off a slick move orchestrated by Cody Gakpo.

However, Southampton refused to go down without a fight. The home side found a glimmer of hope in the 59th minute when Cameron Archer cut in from the left and curled a stunning shot into the far corner, reducing the deficit and igniting belief among the Saints’ faithful.

The final stages of the match were fiercely contested, with chances falling to both teams. Yet, despite their efforts, Southampton could not find the equaliser, allowing Liverpool to progress to the last four of the competition.

Looking ahead, Southampton will be hoping to turn their fortunes around as they visit Fulham on Sunday. Meanwhile, Liverpool, currently leading the Premier League, will face a challenging trip to Tottenham Hotspur as they aim to keep their title hopes alive.