Match Report [EFL Cup]: Liverpool 2 - Southampton 1

Liverpool 2 - Southampton 1

Match Date: Tuesday 23rd September 2025 (8pm)

Lineup Link 

Scorers:

Liverpool:

• Isak (43')
• Ekitike (85') 

Southampton:

• Shea Charles (76')

Match Report:

With an expected and very much changed lineup - you just knew this game would be something to forget.  However, it was a chance to see some of the younger, and less fitter signings by Liverpool over the summer - that included Frimpong, Isak, Rio, Leoni, Chiesa, Gomez, Wataru Endo and Trey.

There was a chance for Isak to score in the opening minutes of the game when put in a shot in the penalty area with two defenders around him, but it was saved.  But from then on it was a dull affair, with Liverpool's build up being at pedestrian pace, Southampton were easily able to defend in numbers, and Liverpool seemed to have no bright ideas on how to get through their low block.  What was noticeable in the first half were how many of the starting lineup seemed off form, in particular Endo who seemed to struggle when pressed, Gomez who did not inspire the Liverpool crowd into thinking he would be an adequate player to replace Virgil or Konate if any one of them got an injury.  The bright sparks of this first half were Chiesa, and the young Leoni - good because he looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet, and showed glimpses of his defending by winning heading duels in midfield. Chisea was evidently trying to create something, he switched wings frequently during the game to get more involved and seemed determined to take the opportunity he was given by Slot to start.  His persistence paid off towards the end of the half when the Southampton goalkeeper (very good until this one point) passed to one of his team mates in the penalty area - but the ball was moving slow, and Chiesa chased and got the ball first, and in one turn passed the ball to the free Isak - who shot to get his first goal for Liverpool.  This goal took place 40 seconds after a badly missed chance by Southampton at the Liverpool end.  

The start of the second half saw Ekitike come on in place of Isak.  The play was must faster from Liverpool, but other than Chiesa and and Ekitike trying to add much energy to the attacking play, the passing in the final third was still not taking place to the required level.  Rio was also finding that football at this 'man' level is harder, he was unable to impact the play like in his previous appearances to date, a humbling experience maybe. There was a moment when the referee stopped play while Ekitike was fighting for the ball with a Southampton defender, and for whatever reason Ekitike angrily the ball away which earned him a yellow card.

Slot decided to change tactic and take off Jones and bring on Bradley, and move Frimpong into midfield. This added more impetus to the game but without the necessary control and Southampton took full advantage. They managed to get at the final third of Liverpool and earn a few corners, and it was one of those corners which led to their equalizer, admittedly by a miss-directed header by Wataru Endo who would have been better advised to leave the ball.  The header fell to a Southampton player who passed to Shea Charles and he scored with ease.  Here we are again, Liverpool losing a lead, and allowing the opposition back in, but this time to an obvious error.

As Liverpool fought back an incident involving Leoni took place while in an entanglement with a Southampton player.  He seemed to challenge for the ball and fall to the ground on his back maybe ? - it was hard to tell, he seemed to be in agony and in the end had to be stretchered off. It would sadly turn out that he would be diagnosed with an ACL injury that will most definitely rule him out for the full season.  The PTSD of Liverpool fans from 2021/22 might just start to creep into their minds as Liverpool now have only 3 fit defenders (of which one of them could get an injury at very short notice in Joe Gomez).  In this game Leoni was replaced with Kerkez, for this game it would have to do, as there was no Konate or Virgil, although Reece Williams was still on the bench and not used. 

Liverpool managed to get some control in the 70th minute, and like the normal first team they started having a high defensive line and passed it around the back, with Chiesa working tirelessly to find some angle.  Then during a a few passes at the back, Robertson kicked the ball long just behind Southampton's defense which Chiesa raced onto and ran into the penalty area and only the goal keeper to face, he decided to lay it off for the oncoming Ekitike who put in an easy tap-in for Liverpool to go ahead and ... yes you got it, another late winner.  But the drama of that goal would end in Ekitike getting sent off, as the goal he scored seemed to have drained his memory and brain of of the fact that he had been yellow carded in the first half.  His celebration towards the crowd led to him taking off his top, but later camera stills would show the look on the face of Slot, and crowd in front him with open mouthed shock, and Frimpong chasing him to warn him.  It was too late he was sent off, he was not even (rightly) afforded a look of sympathy by the manager who would later go onto say that the goal itself did not warrant such a celebration being a tap-in, but maybe a thank you to Chiesa for laying it off for him to score the easy goal. For his moment of madness (or forgetfulness) - he will miss the Premier League game against Crystal Palace this weekend, and for his sake, lets hope that Liverpool win that away game against the only other team (outside of Liverpool) in the league that have not lost a game yet.

 Liverpool defended deep with 10 men - there were only 5 minutes remaining plus extra time, they kept Southampton out of their penalty area and managed a few breaks in the process, the real hero of the night was Chiesa, not only for the two assists, but also for his tireless running, and maturity shown by him throughout the game.  His fitness may now be close to normal as he played until the final whistle and seemed to be the player most determined to run and do everything to see this game over the line. 

Liverpool would get through to the next round where it is confirmed that they will face Crystal Palace at Anfield.  The result should be celebrated but the injury to Leoni, and the un-necessary red card obtained by Ekitike had cast a sad and dark shadow over  the result of this game, as it might prove costly.