Darwin Nunez rediscovers finishing touch as Liverpool pile more misery on Southampton
The Uruguayan arrived on the south coast with a single goal from his previous 11 appearances
Darwin Nunez discovered his finishing touch to set Liverpool on their way to the last four and inflict another layer of misery on an improved Southampton.
The Uruguayan arrived on the south coast with a single goal from his previous 11 appearances but his calm finish, swiftly followed by a first of the season for Harvey Elliott, looked to have teed up a straightforward evening for Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders.
But the division’s bottom side put up a creditable second half response and Cameron Archer halved the deficit with an impressive finish before a series of good chances to level went amiss.
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Simon Rusk appears neither here for a good time nor a long time with Saints pursuing a number of options to replace Russell Martin, who was sacked after Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing dished out by Tottenham.
And the interim boss maintained most of the personnel from that shocker, although early attempts to ease defensive pressure by simply getting rid were greeted with cheers from home fans.
By comparison Slot, watching from the back of the press box because of a touchline ban, kept only three of his side from Saturday’s draw against Fulham and left Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at home.
It was still a strong side, captained by Trent Alexander-Arnold, but a first start for Trey Nyoni was what caught most attention.
And the 17-year-old wasted no time in linking up nicely with Cody Gakpo on the left of the visitors’ midfield.
Liverpool dominated from the outset, though an initial sighter for Nunez ended with a wind-assisted shot flying high and wide after 15 minutes.
Southampton were then allowed to break three on two only for Mateus Fernandes to pass too casually to Tyler Dibling, who eventually was pressured into a tame shot at Caoimhin Kelleher.
And not long after that rare foray forward, Nunez made his mark following yet another defensive error.
Alexander-Arnold had advanced into midfield and dispatched a left-footed pass near the centre circle.
Bednarek attempted to clear it only to slice the ball into the path of Nunez and he strolled forward before sidefooting home under minimal pressure.
Liverpool asserted even greater control once in front and Elliott, making his first start of the season because of injury, threatened to make it another miserable evening with a second goal.
Gakpo was the architect, exchanging a series of passes with Wataru Endo on his way in from the left. And when the ball was worked to Elliott, his low drive took a deflection off Ryan Manning to leave Alex McCarthy with no chance.
MacAllister was denied a third by McCarthy and Slot felt so comfortable with their advantage that he introduced Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimakis at the interval.
But there were soon signs of a Saints fightback as Archer sized up Tyler Morton and Jarell Quansah before drilling confidently past Kelleher nearing the hour.
Southampton discovered a new lease of life and Kelleher reacted well to a first-time Archer effort following Yukinari Sugawara’s cross, while Jarell Quansah got in the way of a Fernandes shot.
Sub Paul Onuachu slipped when dealt a late opportunity and Ben Brereton Diaz directed an unmarked header straight at Kelleher.
And Quansah was also fortunate in added time after appearing to drag Fernandes to the ground when the last man.
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