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Alexander Isak, the man who extinguished Liverpool’s hopes in the Carabao Cup final last season, opened his account for Arne Slot’s side as they produced yet another victory with another late show. It was far from a comfortable night’s work for the Premier League leaders, however, as Will Still’s Southampton refused to be intimidated at Anfield and almost took the tie to penalties.
Liverpool needed an 85th-minute winner from Hugo Ekitiké to see off tenacious opposition from the Championship and maintain their quest to reach a fourth League Cup final in five seasons. Ekitiké received a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration and will now miss Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace through suspension. His dismissal added to Slot’s concerns after Giovanni Leoni’s impressive debut came to an abrupt halt through injury.
Before starting their mission to reach another League Cup final Liverpool paid tribute to Matt Beard, the former manager of Liverpool Women whose death was announced at the weekend. A period of silence was observed ahead of kick-off in memory of the 47-year-old, who won two Women’s Super League titles with the club in 2013 and 2014 and promotion back to the top flight in his second spell in charge. He was, as Slot wrote in his programme notes, “a significant figure within women’s football over many years” and “loved and admired by so many.”
Slot stuck to his promise to field a completely different lineup to Saturday’s win in the Merseyside derby in the third round tie. Leoni partnered Joe Gomez in central defence for his first appearance since a £26m summer move from Parma and was a towering, composed and alert presence on his debut. His performance was an exception in the first half, however. Liverpool’s much-changed team were careless in possession and second best in the challenge. An interval lead flattered them.
The contest might have been different had Isak scored with only 46 seconds on the clock. There were echoes of Russell Martin’s Southampton from last season when the visitors were caught taking too many risks at the back by Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa found the £125m striker free on the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, one of those responsible for inviting Liverpool pressure, atoned by blocking Isak’s goal-bound shot with his chest.
The first exchange proved deceptive. There was no Liverpool onslaught. Instead, Southampton took the game to their Premier League hosts and were the sharper, more enterprising side for the next 20 minutes. Adam Armstrong drew a fine fingertip save from Giorgi Mamardashvili following a neat one-two with the overlapping Ryan Manning. Another Manning delivery, flicked on by Cameron Archer at the near post, struck Gomez and rebounded wide.
Rio Ngumoha showed moments of fleet-footed promise on the left and Chiesa forced a low save out of McCarthy from Isak’s lay-off but Still’s side remained comfortable. And Southampton should have taken the lead shortly before the break when Archer released Armstrong through on goal.
The forward’s clipped effort sailed over Mamardashvili and struck the crossbar. No matter, Léo Scienza was first to the rebound and with only Leoni covering the Liverpool goalline appeared certain to score. He steered a free header wide of the Kop goal from five yards out instead.
Scienza, Still and everyone else of a Southampton persuasion were still computing the miss when Liverpool took the lead sixty seconds later. It would be wrong to describe Isak’s first Liverpool goal as another example of a Premier League team punishing an opponent’s wastefulness. Southampton’s punishment was entirely self-inflicted.
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The experienced McCarthy failed to heed the lessons of Isak’s first-minute chance and aimed another risky pass towards Joshua Quarshie on the left of his penalty area. Chiesa read the keeper’s telegraphed intentions and got there first. The Italy international turned the ball back inside for the unmarked Isak to sweep a first time finish around McCarthy. The most expensive signing in British football history was off the mark in Liverpool colours. It was to be his last contribution as Slot continues to ease the striker back to match fitness following his summer strike at Newcastle. Hugo Ekitiké replaced Isak at the start of the second half.
Liverpool had more control after the interval with Ekitiké’s movement and Chiesa’s industry occupying Southampton, although sloppiness in possession continued to offer hope and space to the visitors. Neither keeper had been seriously tested in the second half when Southampton stunned Anfield by drawing level from a deep Manning corner. Wataru Endo, attempting to head clear, made a mess of his attempt and sent it in the wrong direction to Quarshie. The defender flicked on for substitute Shea Charles, played onside by Conor Bradley, to beat Mamardashvili from close range for his first Southampton goal.
Slot suffered another setback when Leoni suffered a suspected knee injury and had to be stretchered off following lengthy treatment. But the Liverpool late show rolled on regardless. With five minutes remaining and penalties looming Andy Robertson pinged a delightful ball out of central defence into Chiesa’s run behind the Southampton defence. The striker controlled perfectly and squared unselfishly for Ekitiké to convert into an empty net. The France international, already booked for dissent, removed his shirt in celebration and promptly received a second yellow card for his foolishness.
