A first-half goal from Nathan Redmond was enough for Southampton to take a slender 1-0 advantage over Liverpool in the first leg of EFL Cup semi-final.
The Reds should thank their goalkeeper Loris Karius for keeping them in the tie with a string of brilliant saves. Jurgen Klopp’s side was dominating the possession but it was Claude Puel’s side which drew the first blood when Redmond found the back of the net from Jay Rodriguez’s pass. The visitors could have avoided the goal as Ragnar Klavan miscued when attempting to cut out Dusan Tadic’s pass to Jay Rodriguez.
Earlier, Roberto Firmino drew a fine save from Fraser Forster but that was the only clear chance that came for the Reds as the Saints threatened to run riot throughout the game. With the crunch tie against Manchester United looming large, the Merseyside outfit should improve by leaps and bounds to get a positive result against the in-form Red Devils.
Let us how Twitterati reacted to the match:
Last season Klopp couldn't understand why the semi final was two legs, he'll be f*****g ecstatic that's the case tonight!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) January 11, 2017
FFS take your 1-0 and get out of there!!!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) January 11, 2017
That was literally the only game where you get away with that performance.
It’s only half time. Plenty to play for.
— GaGs (@GagsTandon) January 11, 2017
Been here many times before.
Anyone remember Palace winning a 1st leg semi-final? Anfield next which is a different animal on semi finals.
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) January 11, 2017
FT: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool ?
Worst performance of season by a massive distance ?
Consolation: It's only one goal and we're still in it? pic.twitter.com/vQAxb1feFs— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) January 11, 2017
One can only assume this awful display was done to fool Mourinho into actually attacking on Sunday
— Ricky Mann (@RickyMann4) January 11, 2017
I could tell from yesterday's EFL semis that Liverpool is toothless without Sadio Mane! Honestly Southampton dominated the game.
— David King Basit (@davidbasitking) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/Anything_LFC/status/819309373122052096
https://twitter.com/SibsMUFC/status/819303586270158848
Liverpool have failed to score in back-to-back games for the first time since January, 2016.
Déjà vu. pic.twitter.com/FmTc3NHkVy
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 11, 2017
This is either a bad night for Liverpool or evidence of a lack of depth beyond their best starting XI. Appears to be the latter.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) January 11, 2017
Liverpool just totally out of sync. Awful performance. Could easily be 3 or 4-0 to Southampton. How we're still in the tie is unbelievable.
— Spion Kop (@TheKopHQ) January 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/FootyHumour/status/819295168683720707
Liverpool losing 1-0 to their academy #Awkward
— Andy Castell (@AJ3) January 11, 2017
Liverpool fans frantically checking the African Nations fixtures to see when Mane is back.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 11, 2017
Ragnar Klavan finding the perfect way to commemorate the anniversary of Martin Škrtel signing for Liverpool
— Tom Victor (@tomvictor) January 11, 2017
With Karius looking solid, Klavan makes sure to abide by the strict rule that at least one Liverpool player has to be a defensive liability
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 11, 2017