Alexander Isak, a scourge of Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last season, opened his account in red as Arne Slot’s side advanced into round four courtesy of another late show.
It was a far from comfortable night for the Premier League leaders, however, with Southampton’s adventure, Hugo Ekitiké’s foolish red card and a potentially serious injury to the debutant Giovanni Leoni ensuring victory came at a price.
Liverpool needed an 85th-minute winner from Ekitiké to avoid a penalty shootout against Will Still’s tenacious side and launch their quest to reach a fourth League Cup final in five seasons. It was Liverpool’s sixth late winner in a seven-game winning sequence but their celebrations were tainted by Ekitiké receiving a second yellow card for removing his shirt. He will miss the visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday as a consequence of a dismissal for which Slot made no excuses.
“The first one [for dissent] was already needless and, to a certain extent, stupid, as you have got to control your emotions,” the Liverpool head coach said. “With the second one I told him that if you score in the Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it in the top corner … I can maybe understand he is like: ‘This is all about me.’ But I’m old-fashioned. If I scored a goal like this I’d have walked up to Federico Chiesa and said: ‘This goal is all about you, this is not about me.’ Needless, not smart, you call it stupid, I called it stupid right away as well.”
Ekitiké was quick to apologise for his dismissal after the game. “I was so excited to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match,” the forward wrote on Instagram. “The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family. Thanks to the fans who always support us and to my team-mates for this victory!”
Before kick-off Liverpool paid tribute to Matt Beard, the former manager of Liverpool Women whose death at the age of 47 was announced at the weekend. A period of silence was observed in memory of the coach 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.
Slot stuck to his promise to field a completely different lineup to the side that won the Merseyside derby on Saturday. Leoni partnered Joe Gomez in central defence for his first appearance since a £26m summer move from Parma and the teenager was a towering, composed and alert presence.
An impressive night’s work came to a horrible end, however, when the 18-year-old’s knee appeared to give way as he tumbled off the pitch late on. There are immediate fears of an anterior cruciate ligament injury. “Tomorrow he will probably have a MRI scan to see how serious it is,” Slot said. “Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. Let us hope for the best.”
Isak could have had his first Liverpool goal 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 Chiesa found the £125m striker free on the penalty spot. The goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, one of those responsible for inviting Liverpool pressure, atoned by blocking Isak’s goal-bound shot with his chest.
The first‑minute exchange proved deceptive. There was no Liverpool onslaught. Instead, Southampton took the game to their Premier League hosts. Adam Armstrong drew a fine fingertip save from Giorgi Mamardashvili after a one-two with Ryan Manning.
The Championship side should have taken the lead 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 goal appeared certain to score. He steered a free header wide of the Kop goal from five yards out. Liverpool were ahead a minute later. Southampton’s punishment was entirely self-inflicted.
The experienced McCarthy aimed another risky pass towards Joshua Quarshie on the left of his penalty area. Chiesa read the goalkeeper’s telegraphed intentions and intercepted. The Italy international turned the ball back for the unmarked Isak to sweep a first-time finish around the Southampton keeper. It was to be the record signing’s final contribution as Slot eases the striker back to match fitness following his summer strike at Newcastle.
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. Southampton stunned Anfield by drawing level from a Manning corner.
Diego Gómez scored four goals as Brighton thrashed Barnsley 6-0 at Oakwell. Gómez, signed from Inter Miami in January, struck Brighton's early opener and followed up with two spectacular efforts – a blistering shot into the roof of the net and a 30-yard volley over Barnsley keeper Murphy Coopers.
The Paraguay midfielder (pictured) then slid home his fourth goal in the second half, with substitutes Harry Howell and Yasin Ayari also on target late in the game as Fabian Hürzeler’s side hit six for the second Carabao Cup game in a row, having beaten Oxford 6-0 in the third round.
Cardiff City won 2-1 at Burnley to reach the fourth round for the first time since reaching the final in 2012. The League One side went in front on the half-hour mark when Calum Chambers crossed for Joel Colwill to score from close range. Six minutes later, Callum Robinson converted Rubin Colwill’s centre to deservedly double the visitors’ lead.
Scott Parker had made 11 changes from Burnley’s draw with Nottingham Forest, and his reshuffled team pulled a goal back through Zian Flemming, who curled home from the edge of the area in the 56th minute. They could not find an equaliser, though, as Brian Barry-Murphy’s Bluebirds advanced to the last 16.
Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare struck in each half as Wolves put their league woes aside with a 2-0 home win over Everton. Munetsi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, slamming home the rebound after Jhon Arias’ volley was saved. Substitute Arokodare sealed victory in the 87th minute, finishing off a break as Everton pushed for a leveller.
Fulham struggled to a 1-0 home win over fourth-tier Cambridge United at a half-full Craven Cottage, with Emile Smith Rowe netting the only goal in the 66th minute from Timothy Castagne’s cross after Raúl Jiménez's volley was saved.
Wrexham advanced to the fourth round for the first time since 1977-78 with a 2-0 home win over Reading, striker Nathan Broadhead scoring both goals. In an all-League One tie, Wycombe continued their winning start under Michael Duff with a 2-0 victory at Wigan. Guardian sport and PA Media
Wataru Endo, attempting to head clear, made a mess of his clearance and sent it in the wrong direction to Quarshie. The defender flicked on for Shea Charles, on as a substitute, to convert his first Southampton goal from close range.
With five minutes remaining and penalties looming Andy Robertson pinged a delightful ball 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 removed his shirt in celebration and promptly received a second yellow for his foolishness. But the Liverpool late show rolls on.
