Liverpool survive late Southampton fightback to reach Carabao Cup semi-finals
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Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott score the goals as the holders progress to the final four despite a second-half onslaught from the Saints. After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton on Wednesday night.
![[Harvey Elliott celebrates his first goal of the season as Liverpool beat Southampton]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/21/newFile.jpg)
Elliott scored the visitor’s second of the night, calmly slotting home with his weaker right foot, and was a figure of composure throughout and – at 21 – first-team maturity. When the pace needed slowing, Elliott did so in his roaming midfield role. When it needed speeding up, Elliott found his man, quickly, with a forward pass. In a makeshift Liverpool XI, he was the starring light.
![[Darwin Nunez opened the scoring for the Carabao Cup holders]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/21/GettyImages-2190585200.jpg)
Darwin Nunez had opened the scoring midway through the first-half, seemingly setting the tone for a routine evening’s work for the Premier League leaders. But Cameron Archer’s sumptuous goal and a late Southampton second-half onslaught made Liverpool sweat for their place in the semi-finals.
![[Arne Slot watched from the stands due to a one-game touchline ban]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/21/GettyImages-2190586732.jpg)
In the end though for Arne Slot, watching on behind TalkSport commentator Scott Minto in the stands at St Mary’s due to his one-match touchline ban, it was a satisfactory night’s work. Star players were rested and chances for fringe players were taken. In fact, the Dutch coach may have even been a tad relieved, in avoiding the treacherous swirling rain pitchside.
![[Cameron Archer pulled one back for Southampton in the second-half]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/21/GettyImages-2190589279.jpg)
