You're unlikely to see a more patched-up, needs-must Liverpool team this entire campaign, but it was job done for Arne Slot and his makeshift squad as they booked a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final for the second successive season.
And if anyone was unsure as to how much this at-times maligned tournament still means as this fascinating term continues to take shape, it was dispelled during a gritty second-half performance that saw an unusual lineup dig deep to secure their passage.
The Reds' defence of the competition they have won more than any other goes on, but it was not earned without a healthy dollop of determination as relegation-threatened Southampton pushed them every step of the way before ultimately [ending with a 2-1 home loss](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/southampton-liverpool-carabao-score-live-30614820).
After first-half goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, it looked as though Slot's side were cruising towards the last four before being kept honest until the final knockings and the fact that Liverpool ended the game with Tyler Morton at right-back, James McConnell anchoring midfield and Wataru Endo shepherding the back four says a lot about how stretched it all is just now. Jayden Danns as an emergency left winger also furthered that point.
Having promised to get creative with his team, Slot proved to be a man of his word as he handed a full senior debut to Trey Nyoni. The teenager has a bright future in the game and can rightly be pleased with his efforts in the engine room before he was replaced by Danns.
The head coach's hand was forced somewhat by the lack of available defenders at his disposal but the rolling of the dice was proof that Slot is not averse to springing a tactical surprise or two when the wind takes. But with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker left at home alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch, it was crystal clear that the Reds boss viewed Sunday's trip to Tottenham as the most important of the two games this week.
Having seen Chelsea close the gap to two points after draws with Newcastle and Fulham were played out either side of the Merseyside derby postponement, few could blame Slot for placing extra emphasis on that Premier League title quest. They might find themselves in second by the time they are hosted by Spurs, proving how quickly things can change at the top of English football at this time of year. Therefore, it was imperative to keep as many of the big guns as fully rested as possible ahead of that North London trip.
Liverpool dominated possession in the first half and went into the break with as much as 73% but they didn't create a shedload of chances with the amount of ball they had. They didn't need to, in fairness. Southampton's sieve-like defence was once more breached when Nunez raced on to a through ball from captain Trent Alexander-Arnold that took a deflection on its way through.
Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy stumbled en route back to goal and Nunez tucked it away for his fourth of the season. It was a strike that should do the Uruguay international a lot of good and at a time when Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa have increased the competition for places, it was a timely effort from the No.9. "S\*\*\* Andy Carroll" sang the home ends, in a misguided act of defiance as [Nunez took in the acclaim of his team-mates. It was water off a duck's back for the centre-forward](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/southampton-liverpool-carabao-score-live-30614820).
Liverpool's second came via Elliott, whose close control allowed him to steady himself before finishing with his right foot after excellent approach play from the in-form Cody Gakpo. It was the ideal way for Elliott to mark his first start of the campaign and represents something to build on now after being struck down by that foot fracture back in September. He will be an important player this season, whatever happens.
Another injury-hit player yet to take flight this campaign is Chiesa and it was heartening to see him get his first minutes since late September when he was introduced at the break as part of a double substitution that also saw Kostas Tsimikas return. The former Juventus frontman could even have scored had it not been for a block on the line.
Having barely played since the European Championship in the summer with Italy, Chiesa might take some time to get truly up to speed once more but the £12m signing simply needs to stay available for now to ease the workload up top, specifically on 16-goal top scorer Salah. The rust was evident but it's a start.
Southampton reduced the deficit out of virtually nothing. The ball hammered Endo in the face to inadvertently set Cameron Archer clear and he did the rest by cutting back onto his right foot before firing past Caoimhin Kelleher after the break. The Irish goalkeeper had been a virtual spectator up to that point but he was forced to make a superb reflex save shortly after to deny Archer his second and Saints' equaliser.
The managerless hosts continued to huff and puff against a side with two reserve midfielders in it in Endo and Morton but they perhaps showed why they are in the predicament they are in the Premier League as quality deserted them at crucial points. Kelleher's save from Archer aside, the holders did not concede too many other gilt-edged opportunities.
Despite all the mixing and the matching of the team, the salient point is that Liverpool will be in Thursday's draw alongside Newcastle United, Arsenal and one of either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United. None of the above are particularly desirable in a campaign where there are much bigger fish to fry but this competition does afford Slot the chance to pick up silverware as Reds boss while his tenure can still accurately be described as 'fledgling'.
And, to reverse that point, no team left will fancy the holders now over two legs either.