Liverpool obliterated Southampton with a 6-1 win at St. Mary’s Stadium, as Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Jordon Ibe struck.
Coming back from a poor start on the south coast, Liverpool went on to destroy their League Cup opposition with six goals on the road.
This victory booked a place in the semi-finals, but how did the night play out?
Here is the best of the reaction from social media.
Before the game, much of the attention was focussed on Sturridge, who made his first start of Jurgen Klopp‘s reign in attack.
The 26-year-old has suffered a pair of injuries already under Klopp, and the anticipation of his comeback reflected this long-term absence.
Sturridge is named to start. Get's you dancing like #LFC #YNWA pic.twitter.com/hwtkLjW0TS
— Love Follow Conquer (@lovefollowconqr) December 2, 2015
Meanwhile, others were preoccupied with the absence of midfield maestro Kolo Toure on the substitutes’ bench.
Bit disappointed to find Kolo Toure won't be deployed in his new roving midfield role from the start, if I'm being honest.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) December 2, 2015
No Toure on the bench for #LFC. Whose going to come on in injury time to parade around in centre-midfield?
— Matt Ladson (@mattladson) December 2, 2015
Klopp lined his side up in a fluid 4-3-3 formation, and it unfortunately dissolved early on, with Sadio Mane heading home Ryan Bertrand’s cross after just 42 seconds.
Supporters were, not surprisingly, unamused.
Never had a good feeling about this game!
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) December 2, 2015
Haunted by Mané.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) December 2, 2015
Is it bad that rather than being angry I just laughed at how pathetic that was?
— Luke (@LFCLuke95) December 2, 2015
Southampton continued to focus their attacks down the left flank, with Connor Randall enduring a troubled start up against Dusan Tadic.
The academy right-back was shown a yellow card in the opening 10 minutes for a poor challenge on the Serbian.
https://twitter.com/edAfootball/status/672141682293514240
Dusan Tadic v Connor Randall is an uneven contest so far.
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) December 2, 2015
Twenty-four minutes after Mane’s strike, however, came Liverpool’s decisive reaction.
Joe Allen threaded a sumptuous ball through for Sturridge, who slotted home after some fast footwork on the edge of the six-yard box.
Joe Allen what a wonderful ball!
— Luke (@LFCLuke95) December 2, 2015
Studge ????
— Joe Gomez (@J_Gomez97) December 2, 2015
Sturridge is sooooo good. We don't deserve to be level but he's down invention whenever he's been on the ball.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) December 2, 2015
A matter of minutes followed before Emre Can played a similarly exquisite ball over for Sturridge once again, who duly hammered home a first-time finish to put Liverpool 2-1 up.
That pass from Emre Can was just filth.
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/672146922199760896
Sturridge: devastating finishing.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/lloydjones51/status/672146790158876672
That wasn’t enough for the Reds before the break, with Alberto Moreno firing an astonishing 30-yard strike into the back of the net—via an Origi toe-poke—after a Saints clearance.
Albertoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) December 2, 2015
Ok, now even I'm stunned.
— ML (@FootyML) December 2, 2015
Liverpool held on from a strong start to the second half from the Saints, before Sturridge was withdrawn to applause from the travelling Kop, with Ibe taking his place.
Love you lad @DanielSturridge
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) December 2, 2015
Well done @DanielSturridge Brilliant
— Red (@TaintlessRed) December 2, 2015
It took Ibe less than 10 minutes to make a telling contribution, laying on the pass to meet Origi’s intelligent run, with the Belgian powering home to put Liverpool 4-1 up.
What a night Lfc 4-1 up & no more Gary Neville????
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/MrBoywunder/status/672161556633882624
Love that inside to out movement from Origi. So simple but Liverpool have missed incision like that
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) December 2, 2015
And then it was the 19-year-old’s turn to score, hammering his finish beyond Maarten Stekelenburg on 73 minutes.
Ibe mate you absolute boss!
— Luke (@LFCLuke95) December 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/lloydjones51/status/672162269430743041
With Brad Smith coming on to make his first appearance since rejoining the club in November, the Australian made his mark by laying on Origi’s third, floating a perfect cross into the six-yard box for the Belgian to nod home.
A Divock. Origi. Hat-trick.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) December 2, 2015
@bradsmith_94 @ConnorRandall21 proud boys get in !
— Cameron Brannagan (@Cameron246bran) December 2, 2015
Brad Smith went on trial to Barnsley in September. His career was meandering. Impasse on Liverpool contract. And now he's set up a goal.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) December 2, 2015
It proved to be the final goal of the night, with You’ll Never Walk Alone ringing around St. Mary’s as Bobby Madley blew the final whistle.
Ref puts Soton out of their misery, full time, 6-1, #LFC making it into the semis in style. Genuinely outstanding.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) December 2, 2015
Fantastic performance from #LFC – the turnaround is unbelievable. What a difference a few months make.
— GaGs (@GagsTandon) December 2, 2015
Jurgen Klopp's record for #LFC just keeps on getting better. 11 games – DDDWWWLWWWW (63.6% win rate) scoring 21 & conceding just 8.
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) December 2, 2015
Another away clash and another win for Liverpool; the Klopp factor continues to work its magic.
