Carabao Cup quarter-final result as Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott put the holders into the last four

LIVERPOOL SURVIVE SAINTS COME BACK TO EDGE FOR LAST FOUR

Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott were on the scoresheet as Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win at managerless Southampton.

Arne Slot, serving a one-match touchline ban, named a makeshift starting XI for this clash at St Mary’s, but it did little in the end as the Merseysiders continued their pressure on all fronts.

Nunez opened the scoring after 24 minutes when he raced onto Trent Alexander-Arnold’s long pass to fire just his fourth goal of the season.

Elliott then doubled the lead heading into the interval as he marked his first start of an injury-plagued season with his first goal to polish off fine work by Cody Gakpo.

Southampton, led by caretaker Simon Rusk after the dismissal of Russell Martin at the weekend, looked lost but suddenly ignited in belief when Cameron Archer cut in from the left and curled a fine shot into the far corner to reduce the arrears to 59th minutes.

There were chances at both ends in a hard-fought final but The Saints could not find the equalizer to deny the holders progress to the last four.

Next, struggling Southampton visit Fulham on Sunday, while Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Tottenham.