Trey Nyoni was handed his first senior start by Arne Slot.
Trey Nyoni was handed his first senior start by Arne Slot.
Arne Slot watched Liverpool’s fringe players almost let a two-goal lead slip before confirming their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott appeared to have the Premier League leaders in cruise control after little more than half an hour against struggling Southampton.
But Cameron Archer produced a fine finish before goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied the Saints forward an equaliser from point blank range while Paul Onuachu and Ben Brereton Diaz spurned late opportunities.
“The first half was really good, a good performance,” said Slot, whose team are now unbeaten in 20 games. “But it didn’t come as a complete surprise to concede because we got a bit sloppy and lost one or two easy balls. They came back into the game.”
[
Darwin Nunez discovers finishing touch to help Liverpool into Carabao Cup semi-finals](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/darwin-nunez-liverpool-southampton-carabao-34341417)
Slot, who was serving a one-game touchline ban, decided to keep Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at home and handed a first start to 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni.
Fellow academy graduate Tyler Morton started, while Jaden Danns and James McConnell came off the bench.
And Slot said of his young guns: "This club is known for this. These players train with us on a daily basis and it is nice to see they showed they can play at this level. Now the next step is to be capable of playing [regularly] for Liverpool.
“We have to defend the trophy. I wasn’t involved but the players were. We want to compete in every competition. It’s always a tough competition but this year for sure.”
Cameron Archer pulled a goal back for Southampton
Cameron Archer pulled a goal back for Southampton
Interim Southampton manager Simon Rusk remains unsure whether he will be in charge for Sunday’s visit to Fulham. But he hailed the Saints players for their response to last weekend’s 5-0 loss to Spurs that spelled the end for Russell Martin.
"Our priority going into the game was to be hard to beat, given the nature of Sunday,” Rusk said. “The players reflected on the change as people and professionals to prepare for the next game.
"I'm sure one or two of them were disappointed but we have a responsibility to try to win the next game. Their receptiveness to me has been second to none."
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