Liverpool vs Southampton LIVE
Liverpool made a winning start to their Carabao Cup campaign on Tuesday as Alexander Isak scored his first goal for the club. The much-rotated Reds were not quite at their best in the first half, and were somewhat confounded by Southampton’s rigid defence and lively press. For stretches in the first half, the Saints appeared the more likely scorers, but their good work was undermined as Federico Chiesa cut out a loose pass from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, squaring for Isak to fire home and open his Liverpool account.
The Saints drew level in the second half as their hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner, with Shea Charles tapping home from close range to bring penalties to the forefront of everyone’s minds. But Hugo Ekitike ensured they were not required, tapping home from another Chiesa cross to restore their lead. Already on a booking, he took his shirt off in celebration and was duly booked again, ending a bright cameo with an early shower.
There was a fresh injury concern for Arne Slot in the second half, too, as Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off following an awkward tackle in the second-half. The Reds will find out their next Carabao Cup opponent on Wednesday evening. Catch up with the action as it happened below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge.
Liverpool vs Southampton latest news
- GOAL! Charles levels for Southampton
- GOAL! Isak opens his Liverpool account
- Liverpool XI
- Southampton XI
FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
21:54 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it! Liverpool are through.
Ekitike scored the winner for the Reds, but then saw red himself. Penny for his thoughts!
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
21:53 , Arthur Ferridge90+6mins: Mamardashvili claims a high cross, and that is the six added minutes played.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge90+2mins: That suspension will see Ekitike miss a crunch Premier League tie away to Crystal Palace.
Six minutes added on, for the record.
Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
21:46 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: More changes for Southampton in a final roll of the dice from Will Still. It’s all or nothing now.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Southampton | Ekitike '85
21:43 , Arthur Ferridge85mins: Naturally, Liverpool spoil the fun with a late goal. Chiesa is played in behind and squares to Ekitike, who taps in to put the Reds back in front.
He then takes his shirt off in celebration and receives a second yellow! He’s off!
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge84mins: McCarthy catches a cross and pumps it up to Armstrong. Reinforcements chase him down, but Southampton cannot capitalise on the territory.
In the background, Leoni is stretchered off.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Liverpool do have a propensity for late goals this season...
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Endo clears his lines this time. Liverpool counter, but Southampton do just enough to keep them out.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Southampton are piling the pressure on now. Late corner for the visitors.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:37 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: Kerkez is being prepared to come on for Leoni, who does seem to be in considerable pain. The stretcher is being readied.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:36 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: Leoni crashes out of play as he makes a last-ditch tackle, and looks to be in considerable discomfort.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:36 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: I suppose it is now worth mentioning that this tournament does not feature extra time. If we remain level in 12 minutes time, it is straight to penalties.
Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
21:35 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Ekitike goes remarkably close to restoring Liverpool’s lead, but misses narrowly wide.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Southampton | Charles '76
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Southampton are level! I said it would only take one minute, and a moment of defensive calamity from Liverpool has Southampton back in the game. Nobody can clear the corner away after Endo knocks it central, and Charles finishes from close range.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:32 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Downes wins a corner after Gomez loses the ball.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:31 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Ngumoha is withdrawn to a standing ovation. Jayden Danns replaces him.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:31 , Arthur Ferridge74mins: Frimpong’s cross is cut out by McCarthy, who, despite being at fault for Isak’s goal, is having a pretty good game.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:30 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Liverpool restore order pretty promptly at Anfield. They will badly want a second goal here to settle themselves in the late stages.
All it would take is a moment for Southampton to pull one back, and then a dreaded penalty shootout would be on the cards.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge71mins: Manmardashvili hands Downes the ball with a wayward pass, and suddenly Southampton are the team pushing for a goal.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: The free-kick is behind for a corner, and the corner goes begging as Ekitike is deemed to have fouled his marker.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: Ngumoha is tripped at the corner of the box, setting up a threatening free-kick for Liverpool.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:23 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: Downs is dispossessed on the edge of the box and Ekitike shoots first time, but he doesn’t quite catch it how he wanted it to. The ball dribbles wide.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:22 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Another chance for Chiesa who pounces on a loose ball and cuts into the box, but his shot, again, is blocked.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Ngumoha is having no joy at all on the left flank. He is still being double-marked, and even a player of his quality is struggling for attacking impetus in the face of that setup.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:19 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Chiesa pounds one home from close range after a lovely passing move, but he is well offside.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Ngumoha cuts in off the left flank smartly and finds Frimpong on the far side, but he cannot work the ball into a worthwhile attacking position.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: Downes has a pop from the edge of the box after a bit of penalty-box pinball, but his effort does not reach the goal.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge59mins: Really very little action to speak of so far in this second half. The match is there for Southampton to take, though that is, of course, easier said than done.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:14 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Jones is duly replaced by Bradley.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:13 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Conor Bradley is being prepared to come on in place of Curtis Jones, whose minutes are also being managed as he recovers from injury.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: Ekitike gets free at the top of the pitch and jinks through the box, but Quarshie does well to get between him and the ball to neuter the threat - for now.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:10 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: The two Italians Chiesa and Leoni exchange some terse feedback with one another after the latter misplaced a pass to the former.
Elsewhere, Ekitike is booked for holding onto the shirt of Wood, which feels a little unjust.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:08 , Arthur Ferridge51mins: Just the two changes for now as Jander is replaced by Charles, and Archer by Downs (Not to be confused with Downes).
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:08 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Southampton throwing the kitchen sink at this, it seems. Still is readying a handful of subs.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:07 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Nyoni has a pop from range, but his effort is blocked and pops up nicely for McCarthy to claim.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Southampton have settled right back into their low block, which seems to have Liverpool confounded.
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:04 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: As Ekitike for Isak is a like-for-like change, there is no change in setup, structure, or approach from Liverpool. They quickly settle back into their patterns of passing play.
2ND HALF: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
21:02 , Arthur FerridgeBack underway for the second half! Can Southampton turn this around, or will the hosts stamp their authority on the tie?
Ekitike replaces Isak after the break.
Half-time
20:49 , Arthur FerridgeIt had to be him, really, didn’t it?
HALF TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
20:48 , Arthur FerridgeIt was all going so well for Southampton, but after Isak’s late intervention, Liverpool lead at the break.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Southampton | Isak, '43
20:45 , Arthur FerridgeAnd Southampton’s wastefulness is punished! Chiesa nicks it after McCarthy’s loose pass and squares back to Isak, who makes no mistake.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:44 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: How on Earth has that stayed out! Armstrong is through on goal and tries to chip Mamardashvili but hits the crossbar. Scienza follows him in with a header and misses wide!
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:40 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Jelert drops a shoulder and barges Ngumoha into touch as he chases a through-ball.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Isak does brilliantly on the left wing, producing a nice bit of skill to beat his marker before fizzing a cross into the area. Nobody there to finish it, though.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Robertson looks to play Ngumoha in behind, but overhits his through ball.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: No nonsense shoulder-to-shoulder tackle from Leoni calls this latest Southampton attack to an unceremonious end. Assured performance on debut from the young Italian so far.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge33mins: Mamardashvili claims the floated corner, and Liverpool counter through Jones and Ngumoha. Southampton get back in time to halt them, though.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Isak gets on the ball on the edge of the box, but has nowhere to go, just no space to work with. Stalwart defending from the Saints.
They race down the other end, and Archer very nearly turns a cross in, but Gomez is there to put it behind for a corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:32 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: Chiesa has a crack from the edge of the box, but Wood slides in to block him.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge31mins: A miscue on the set-piece, which no red-shirted player even seems to bother running onto.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Enzo is tackled by Jander and Liverpool have a free-kick about 35m from goal. Robertson stands over it.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:30 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: Will Still on the touchline is audibly very pleased with how Southampton are doing here.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: In fairness to Southampton, they’ve got themselves in some good positions in this match, but their finishing has been the key problem area all season long.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: Smart cross from Jelert, but Mamardashvili is there to claim it.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:27 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: Frimpong goes through the back of Archer, and it is a free-kick for the Saints on the edge of their own penalty area.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: As I say that, Chiesa forces another great save from McCarthy! Isak gets away in the right channel and sets one back to the Italian, who gets a good effort off and is unlucky not to score.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: Liverpool have not had a shot since that early effort from Isak.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:22 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: Southampton are double-marking Ngumoha. Says a lot about how highly regarded he is.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Scienza streaks in behind and is one-on-one with Mamardashvili, but the linesman’s flag is up before he can get a shot off.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Gomez looks to fire one between the lines into the feet of Isak, but it doesn’t quite get there. The big Swede hasn’t been involved too much since missing that chance back in the first minute. Feels like a long time ago.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: Around the grounds, Everton are trailing Wolves 1-0, and Brighton are two goals up against Barnsley.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:18 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Shades of last season’s Southampton in some senses. They are looking to play attractive along-the-floor football, and just can’t get through the Liverpool block.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: The Liverpool press is really suffocating Southampton. They are pinned in their own box and pump the ball long to Archer, who cannot get his head on it.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:13 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: A disconnect in attack as Frimpong’s pass from the wing to the middle is cut out by Archer. He is fouled as he looks to break.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:12 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: That is what we all came to see from Ngumoha. He skips past Jelert and gets down the left wing, but the Dane recovers to play him into touch.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: After a frenetic first six minutes or so, Liverpool have taken all the sting out of this. They are passing around the back and slowly working their way down the flanks, but not creating much as yet.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Ngumoha gets on the ball for the first time, but does not do a huge amount with it. Liverpool settling into their patterns now.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Southampton catch their hosts out again here, and win the ball off the back line. Armstrong finds Manning out wide and he gets it back, before forcing a cracking save from Mamardashvili. Bright start from the visitors.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:06 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Scienza takes a speculative shot from range, and Mamardashvili saves easily.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:05 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Armstrong gets a shot away from the corner, and wins another one.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Archer is on the ball around the Liverpool box but can’t quite work a shooting chance. He wins a corner by way of the debutant Leoni.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge1mins: A huge chance off the bat! Liverpool press energetically from the off and Gomez wins the ball in the final third. He plays Isak in, but McCarthy is fully spreadeagled to deny the Swede his first goal in Red.
KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
20:01 , Arthur FerridgeWe’re off!
Before we get going...
19:59 , Arthur FerridgeA moment of silence in memory of the late Matt Beard.
The beloved former Liverpool, Chelsea, and West Ham Women’s manager passed away earlier this week.
Here we go...
19:56 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads are out at Anfield!
Reminder of the XIs
19:50 , Arthur FerridgeWith kick-off just ten minutes away, here’s a reminder of how the teams will line up.
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Robertson, Gomez, Leoni, Frimpong; Jones, Endo, Nyoni; Chiesa, Isak, Ngumoha
Southampton XI: McCarthy; Jelert, Edwards, Wood, Quarshie, Manning, Downes, Jander, Armstrong, Scienza, Archer
Slot: Isak will not play 90 minutes
19:43 , Arthur FerridgeGood news for Will Still. Alexander Isak will not play 90 minutes today.
He told Sky Sports: “That is where the focus is on. In the meantime, we have to keep winning, of course, but it is good that Isak has playing time.
“He will not play 90 today. It is too soon for that, but it is nice we have games where we can play him.”
Liverpool vulnerabilities?
19:42 , Arthur FerridgeLiverpool, the defending Premier League champions, remain unbeaten this season.
They have been far from convincing, though.
As with last season, the Reds have looked vulnerable on the counter-attack and in transition.
They have given up two-goal leads on three occasions, too.
There are plenty of weaknesses for Southampton to exploit tonight, but can Will Still pull it off?
Will Still previews the tie
19:35 , Arthur FerridgeSouthampton boss Will Still is eyeing a return to form this evening, in spite of Liverpool’s quality.
“Its a one-off. It is a good opportunity to set things right from a bad result at the weekend, and we need to stand back up and get on with the job.
“Liverpool are an incredibly good, incredibly talented team. This is an opportunity for some players. We want to show the best version of what Southampton can do.
“In any game, even in the Championship, when we make mistakes, we have been punished for them. Tonight, if you make the slightest mistake, you will be punished. Our concentration levels need to be spot on, but we must also take a step back and enjoy it.”
Rio Ngumoha
19:32 , Arthur FerridgeThere are few young players in England with a higher ceiling than the 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha.
The former Chelsea youngster made a huge impression in pre-season with his remarkable pace, direct dribbling, and confidence beyond his years.
He marked his Premier League debut with a cameo away to Newcastle. In the cauldron that is St James’ Park, he fired home with a first-time curling finish to secure all three points after a dramatic game.
Southampton right-back Elias Jelert will have his work cut out for him this evening.
Around the grounds
19:23 , Arthur FerridgeThere’s plenty of other Carabao Cup action on show tonight.
Chelsea are in action away to Lincoln City, which you can follow LIVE with Standard Sport here!
Here are the other Premier League sides in action this evening:
Barnsley vs Brighton
Burnley vs Cardiff
Fulham vs Cambridge
Wolves vs Everton
Adam Armstrong previews the tie
19:14 , Arthur FerridgeAdam Armstrong said Southampton are taking it game by game as Will Still struggles to get the Saints on song.
He told Sky Sports: “We just have to take every game as it comes. Whoever is in front of us we have to put on a show.
“The boys have a great opportunity tonight to come and perform in front of an amazing crowd. Tonight is another opportunity to show what we can do.
“It's a competition we don’t take lightly. We go into every cup game wanting to win. We’ve had a few good draws, and to come to Anfield, it's an amazing place and we are all excited.”
What of Southampton?
19:06 , Arthur FerridgeWill Still has made nine changes to the Saints side which was beaten 3-1 away at Hull City last week.
Leo Scienza makes his full debut for the club after joining from Heidenheim in the summer.
Adam Armstrong provides some Premier League experience.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis drops to the bench, though.
What to know about that Liverpool XI
18:55 , Arthur FerridgeIt is an intriguing, rotated side from Arne Slot.
He names a thrilling attack, with Rio Ngumoha starting alongside British record signing Alexander Isak.
Giorgi Mamardashvili starts between the sticks in place of Allison, while Giovani Leoni is handed his full debut at centre-back.
Jeremie Frimpong will get some minutes in the legs at full-back as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
A crop of academy youngsters are named to the bench.
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS
18:49 , Arthur FerridgeHere come Will Still’s challengers.
Southampton XI: McCarthy; Jelert, Edwards, Wood, Quarshie, Manning, Downes, Jander, Armstrong, Scienza, Archer
Subs: Long, Harwood-Bellis, Charles, Matsuki, Fraser, Fellows, Robinson, Stewart, Downs
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
18:47 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot names his side to face Southampton.
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Robertson, Gomez, Leoni, Frimpong; Jones, Endo, Nyoni; Chiesa, Isak, Ngumoha
Subs: Woodman, Kerkez, Bradley, Ekitike, Williams, Gordon, Morrison, Pilling, Danns
When did Southampton last win at Anfield?
18:38 , Arthur FerridgeI’m so glad you asked.
It was in the semi-finals of this very competition back in January 2017 - eight years ago!
Southampton won 1-0 on the day, thanks to Shane Long’s 91st-minute effort.
That was more than enough to see the Saints through after they won the first leg 1-0, too, and they moved on to face Man United in the final, where their hearts were broken by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Southampton's slow start
18:31 , Arthur FerridgeSouthampton have been slow off the mark in the Championship this year.
Under the leadership of new manager Will Still, they have won just one of their six league matches.
They sit nineteenth in the second division, but could get their season back on track with a cup-set tonight.
Liverpool vs Southampton
18:20 , Arthur FerridgeLiverpool won all four of their meetings with Southampton last season.
Two Premier League meetings ended by an aggregate score of 6-3, while the Reds also took the liberty of eliminating the south coast side from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
The Saints last beat Liverpool in 2021 - a 1-0 win with Danny Ings the only scorer. Can they arrest a four-year losing run at Anfield tonight?
Standard Sport prediction
18:10 , Arthur FerridgeDespite their poor league form, Southampton have notched two wins to nil to reach this point in the cup, beating Northampton Town and Norwich.
However, Liverpool are unbeaten in all six games they’ve played this season and will prove some test for the travelling Saints in their Anfield fortress.
Earlier rounds of the cup this season have already proved that anything is possible, but it’s hard to see a result other than a Liverpool victory here. Don’t be surprised if the visitors nick a goal or two, though - Slot’s men have only kept two clean sheets this season, and there will be at least a few inexperienced and out-of-practice faces in the Reds’ line-up.
Liverpool to win, 4-2.
Southampton team news
18:00 , Arthur FerridgeSouthampton boss Will Still says he will pick a team of players who deserve to play at Anfield for, after making near wholesale changes in the first and second rounds at Northampton and Norwich respectively.
Still is set to choose from a similar squad to Saturday’s defeat at Hull, with no fresh absentees reported.
He said: “I think we’ve got a massive squad. Some players need to play, some players need an opportunity, so that’s what’s going to happen, but we’re never going to completely disregard it and put a load of Under-21s in.
“We’ve got a lot of good players, and some good players that deserve this opportunity, but also some players that have done really well considering the lesser results of the last few weeks, so it’s about getting the right mix between those players that need to play and the ones that deserve to play as well.”
Liverpool team news
17:50 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot is expected to ring the changes for the Carabao Cup tie, though Alexander Isak is likely to make just his second Liverpool start following a big-money summer transfer from Newcastle.
The striker is still building up his match fitness after missing the whole of pre-season and the first three games of the campaign.
Fellow summer arrival Giovanni Leoni is in line to make his debut, potentially partnering Joe Gomez in central defence. Georgi Mamardashvili is also set for his first start in place of Alisson Becker.
That said, captain Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will all be rested after a hectic start to the season.
How to watch Liverpool vs Southampton
17:40 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ITV, which is free-to-air and Sky Sports. Coverage begins at ITV 1 at 7.30pm BST but at 7pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR ahead of the 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can watch the match live online via the Sky Go app, while ITVX will offer a live stream service.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog!
Good evening
17:28 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Southampton.
The Saints were knocked out of the League Cup by the Reds last year. Will history repeat itself tonight? Don’t be surprised...
Follow along here for team news, incisive analysis, and match updates from kick-off, which comes at 8pm!
