Liverpool’s hope for a second successive League Cup final were destroyed as Southampton defeated the Reds at Anfield and advanced to Wembley.
In what was a high octane game with poor finishing from both sides, the Saints had the last laugh as Shane Long struck late to end all Liverpool hopes and give his team an assured victory.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were left hanging their heads in shame at a second successive loss at home as they were utterly and completely outdone by a brilliant Southampton team. Here are the main talking points from this game:
#1 Clinical Southampton, wasteful Liverpool
While both teams had their fair share of chances, the team advancing to the finals took their chances with much more gusto than the hosts who yet again, looked like a shadow of the team they were in 2016.
Southampton were denied by a brilliant Lloris Karius twice but ultimately, their patience persevered and substitute Shane Long got the winning goal that might just make history. On the other hand, Liverpool had numerous chances that resulted in botched shots or misplaced final passes. The Reds dominated possession as usual, but as has been the case lately, the final shot and ball was absent.
It was a tale of a team playing with everything they had vs a team who looked out of ideas. At the end of the day, the deserving side advanced and the hosts will examine the past 90 minutes, and wonder what went wrong.
#2 The Southampton defensive display was sensational
Here’s an incredible stat – Southampton have yet to concede a goal in this year’s League Cup, and in the process, they become the first team in history to advance to the League Cup finals without conceding a goal.
Claude Puel’s men have gone five games without letting any team breach their defensive wall and Liverpool could not change that. The Saints’ solid formation and strong tackles from the defenders kept the Premier League’s best attack at bay.
Having frustrated Liverpool for 90 minutes at the St. Mary’s, Southampton resorted to more or less the same tactics, albeit venturing forward more and almost finding the net twice in the first half. Davis and Yoshida, amongst a few other Saints players, had outstanding games and gave Liverpool no space to play for the most part, going into tackles strong and winning the ball.
A defensive display to be remembered and applauded.
#3 Could’ve been much worse for Liverpool if not for Loris Karius
Almost two months ago, Liverpool’s summer signing was under fire as he was deemed not good enough to play in front of goal for the Reds, but over these two legs in the League Cup, he was the only player from the Merseyside outfit who performed well.
Having already saved his team a couple of times in the first leg, Karius was quick to react in this match also, as he saved a Dusan Tadic shot from close range, and kept the other forwards at bay with his quick runs off his goal. He was Liverpool’s best player and the scoreline could have been worse for Liverpool if not for the 23-year-old and his exploits.
#4 A realistic chance for a trophy for the Saints
Southampton last played a cup final in 2003 where they lost in the FA Cup final, and their best ever League Cup finish came all the way back in 1979, where they had also lost in the finals. With only one trophy in the form of the FA Cup 1976 triumph in their cabinet, the Saints will go to Wembley full of confidence.
The second semi-final game between Hull City and Manchester United will decide who they will be facing, the Red Devils being the heavy favourites to advance. Puel’s men will be wary of Jose Mourinho’s team, but will buoyed by their impressive showing against Liverpool in the two legs.
A solid defensive display combined with a brilliant counter-attacking game and a charismatic team effort over 180 minutes is encouraging, to say the least. Despite, most likely missing star defender Virgil van Dijk for the finals, Southampton have reason to believe that they might just emerge victorious come the final at Wembley.
#5 Everything going wrong for Liverpool
Before the game against Swansea, Liverpool had not lost a game at Anfield in over a year; after their loss against Southampton, they have now lost two successive games in the space of five days.
Although Daniel Sturridge looked lively and the attack was not as toothless as it was in the first leg, things seem to have fallen apart for Klopp’s men since the loss to Bournemouth. Not only are they 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea, there might be a possibility that they will see bitter rivals Manchester United lift a trophy that very well could have been theirs.
With the title challenge looking over, all Liverpool fans will be hoping for is a top 4 finish and Champions League football next season, with maybe a glimpse of hope in the FA Cup. As things stand, though, everything is going wrong at Anfield and the return of Sadio Mane cannot come soon enough.
