Southampton vs Liverpool - it happened: Nathan Redmond strike hands Saints first-leg advantage
Re-live all the action from the EFL Cup semi-final clash
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Kick-off: 19:45
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1
Teams:
Southampton: Forster, Cédric, van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand, Clasie, Romeu, Davis, Tadić, Redmond, Rodriguez. Subs: Lewis, Long, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Stephens, McQueen, Sims.
Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge. Subs: Mignolet, Gomez, Moreno, Stewart, Coutinho, Woodburn, Origi
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It’s a big game for...
Claude Puel. The Frenchman has come under gradually increasing pressure, losing three matches in the space of four. A win here would certainly ease worries ahead of a tricky away cup tie later in the month.
Best stat...
The last three matches with these two have amassed 12 goals, including the Reds’ enormous 6-1 win against the Saints in last year’s EFL cup, whereas Southampton beat Liverpool 3-2 in the Premier League with Sadio Mane scoring twice.
Remember when…
The last time Liverpool visited St Mary’s Divock Origi gave them nightmares with his movement and ultimately wound up scoring the perfect hat trick against them. Look for him to feature heavily against Southampton on Wednesday night.
Player to watch…
Loris Karius. Klopp has confirmed that the German goalkeeper will very likely start against the Saints, after previously being dropped in favour of Simon Mignolet. He has been the centre of public criticism, even involving himself in a public spat with Gary Neville, and he will want to give a good account of himself.
Past three meetings...
Southampton 0 Liverpool 0, Premier League, 2016.
Southampton 3 (Mane 2, Pelle) Liverpool 2 (Coutinho, Sturridge) Premier League, 2016.
Southampton 1 (Mane) Liverpool 6 (Sturridge 2, Origi 3, Ibe) EFL Cup, 2015.
Form guide...
Southampton: DLLLW
Liverpool: WWWWDD
Odds...
Southampton: 21/10
Liverpool: 5/4
Draw: 12/5
(Odds provided by 888Sport)
60 min: Liverpool managing to get themselves into better positions now as Firmino fires a shot on goal from outside the Southampton box. It was Milner who iniaited the attack, getting away from his man on the left before cutting the ball back Lallana. The midfielder proceeded to set up Firmino inside of him but the Brazilian struggled to get enough whip on the ball to curl the ball around Forster and into the back of the net. Liverpool continue to search for that equaliser in vain.
61 min - substitution: Philippe Coutinho makes his first appearance since 26 November as he comes on to replace Georginio Wijnaldum. Hope for Liverpool, maybe?
65 min: Yellow card for Tadic after tussling with Clyne inside the Liverpool half. Seems harsh. If anything, it was the Liverpool who was holding onto him as the pair tumbled to the floor in a heap.
66 min: Coutinho already making waves as he earns Liverpool a corner from the left with his dangerous running and silky footwork.
67 min: Chance for Southampton! After clearing the corner, the Saints broke with menace in a rapid counter-attack that saw a three-on-three. Redmond drove to the edge of the Liverpool box, drawing his man, before releasing Cedric in behind. Bursting into the box from the right, the player went for glory, ignoring the square ball for Rodriguez to his left, but his effort swerved into the side netting. What a chance that was for the home side.
71 min: Another chance for Southampton! After receiving the ball at feet and with his back turned to the Liverpool goal, Rodriguez pulled off a sublime back heel to release Bertrand into the box. Working his way in along the left-hand side byline, the defender waited to pick out the right pass but he dwelt that one second too long allowing Lovren to frantically close him down.
75 min: Liverpool running out of ideas as an over-hit switch ball to Clyne on the right hands up rolling out for a Southampton throw-in. With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Reds are quickly running out of time.
77 min: Coutinho tries his luck with an audacious shot from 30 yards out. The effort sails high and wide of the goal. An honourable effort but he'll need more match time before he's back to his best.
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