Liverpool Edge Saints in Fiery Cup Clash
Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third-round meeting with Southampton turned into quite the rollercoaster, and it was decided by drama right up to the final minutes at Anfield. In the end, Liverpool came away with a 2–1 win, but the story wasn’t straightforward.
The night started with a sense of anticipation, as new signing Alexander Isak was given his chance to shine. He arrived at the club after a record-breaking transfer, and all eyes were on him to deliver. For much of the first half, he was kept quiet, but just before the break, he showed exactly why Liverpool spent so much to bring him in. A poor pass from Southampton’s goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was pounced on by Federico Chiesa, who squared it perfectly for Isak to slot home calmly in the 43rd minute. It was his first Liverpool goal, and it lifted Anfield to its feet.
Southampton, though, were not about to roll over. Despite their difficult season so far, they created chances and eventually found their equalizer. In the 76th minute, Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo misjudged a header back towards his own goal, and Shea Charles seized on the mistake to make it 1–1. Suddenly, nerves set in around the ground.
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But Liverpool’s response was swift. Hugo Ekitike, who had replaced Isak at half-time, became the hero in the 85th minute. Once again, Chiesa was the provider, bursting through and cutting the ball back for Ekitike to tuck it away. The roar around Anfield said it all — relief, joy, and maybe a hint of disbelief at how late the Reds had left it again.
Yet the drama didn’t end there. Already on a yellow card, Ekitike chose to celebrate by ripping his shirt off, and the referee had no choice but to show him a second yellow. From hero to villain in seconds, Ekitike was sent off, leaving Liverpool with ten men for the final tense minutes. The team dug deep, defending their slender lead through stoppage time, and the final whistle was met with exhausted cheers.
There were other storylines, too. Chiesa’s influence was clear, with two assists and a lively presence throughout. Young defender Giovanni Leoni’s debut ended on a sour note, as he was stretchered off late with what looked like a knee injury — a worrying sign for manager Arne Slot, who admitted afterwards that it “did not look positive.”
For Southampton, the night was another reminder of their struggles. They had moments, even hitting the woodwork through Adam Armstrong, but chances were squandered. Their manager, Will Still, must have left wondering what more his side can do to turn performances into results.
Liverpool, meanwhile, move on to the next round of the competition. It wasn’t perfect, far from it, but victories like this highlight the squad’s depth and fighting spirit. And with Isak finally off the mark, the fans will hope it’s the start of many more to come.
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