Liverpool 2-1 Southampton: Three talking points
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Embed from Getty Images
Liverpool edged past Southampton in the Carabao Cup’s third round.
Alexander Isak scored his first goal for Arne Slot’s side shortly before half time when Federico Chiesa seized on a defensive mishap by the visitors.
The Reds were level-pegged in the final stages as Shea Charles pounced after Wataru Endo’s failure to cut out a dangerous ball in the penalty area.
But The Kop was still able to greet another late winner as Chiesa teed up Hugo Ekitike, who was sent off for a second booking after taking his shirt off.
The Premier League champions will discover their opponents in the last 16 of the competition following the conclusion of Wednesday’s remaining ties.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Arne Slot made wholesale changes in attempts to conserve the energies of Liverpool’s squad after an already punishing start to the new campaign.
Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk were among those given a rare night off after starting the opening six games this season.
But his hand has been inadvertently forced by a series of unfortunate events.
Hugo Ekitike may have delivered the goods by extending Anfield’s recent tradition of late winning goals yet it came at a cost with his instant dismissal.
The forward was already traversing the disciplinary tightrope after being booked for dissent over a foul awarded against him on the halfway line.
Removing his shirt in celebration while celebrating his pivotal strike saw a second yellow card issued that may feature as a future pub quiz question.
Ekitike’s moment of foolishness came at an immediate cost as he faces an immediate suspension for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.
At a time when Slot is attempting to manage Isak’s minutes, the France international has given him an unwanted headache ahead of the weekend.
Alexander Isak’s arrival has sparked a debate on Liverpool’s attacking line-up.
The new No.9 clearly thrives at the fulcrum of a trident yet the prospect of him playing with Ekitike in a two-pronged partnership remains an enticing one.
Whether Slot deems that a viable tactic remains unclear but there is already a compelling case for doubling up after Isak’s latest 45-minute cameo outing.
His eagerly anticipated first goal in the famous red shirt shortly before the interval came courtesy of an opportunistic assist by cohort Federico Chiesa.
Isak had teed up the Italian earlier in the half for an effort saved by Alex McCarthy and saw the compliment returned for his opening strike.
Although aided in the front three against Southampton by Rio Nguomha, the pair were operating on their own wavelength in tandem for large parts.
Chiesa struck up a similar understanding with Ekitike after the break which, despite reducing the hosts to 10 men, averted the risk of a penalty shootout.
Anfield’s return to a dynamic duo might not that be far away after all.
The upcoming trip to Selhurst Park will see Liverpool reacquainted with Marc Guehi at the worst possible time for the reigning Premier League champions.
Palace’s captain appeared all set to secure a move to Merseyside on deadline day only for his own club to put the stoppers at the 11th hour.
A failure to prise Guehi from South London could soon come back to bite Slot’s side if the prognosis on Giovanni Leoni’s injury is as bad as first feared.
The towering Italian centre-back’s imperious debut was truncated as his knee appeared to give way after landing awkwardly during a touchline challenge.
Leoni’s visible anguish and prolonged relocation to a stretcher suggested that fears of Liverpool’s defence being understocked are not without foundation.
His anticipated spell on the sidelines means Slot can now only call on three established centre-back options available as the games come thick and fast.
Joe Gomez, Leoni’s partner against the Saints, has endured more than his fair share of injury woes as understudy to Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
If any of them also succumb to the treatment table, the inability to source Guehi will be brought into even sharper focus than it already appears.