A late strike from Shane Long consigned Liverpool to a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Southampton in the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton (0-2 on aggregate)
League Cup Semi-Final Second Leg, Anfield
January 25, 2017
Goals: Long 90+1′
Having already suffered a 1-0 loss at St. Mary’s in the first leg of their semi-final, Liverpool needed to produce a strong performance on home turf in order to reach their third final in a year.
But while Emre Can, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho all came close, and Divock Origi had a late penalty call waved away, it wasn’t to be for Jurgen Klopp‘s side.
With Southampton regularly threatening on the break, it took a decisive effort from Long to seal the result for the away side in the closing stages, with Claude Puel set to lead the Saints to Wembley.
For the Reds, this serves as yet another disappointment in a turgid 2017, with Klopp now having overseen just one win in seven games since the turn of the year, and that being away to League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle.
Here’s how supporters reacted to Liverpool’s 1-0 loss at home to Southampton in Wednesday night’s League Cup semi-final second leg.
Some were surprised by the inclusion of Can…
https://twitter.com/tom97taylor/status/824331224260997120
“Can must be teacher’s pet…He doesn’t deserve to start after his last couple of performances.”
– Raymond Dann on Facebook.
https://twitter.com/garzy23/status/824330968949465187
“Need a big game from them, especially Can. Can’t understand him breaking the midfield trio that started the season so well.”
– robbiemcc62 in the comments section.
Big game for Sturridge and Emre Can. Hope they both have really good performances. Especially Sturridge. Needs it.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) January 25, 2017
James Milner endured a particularly sloppy start…
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/824349534717431819
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/824349398452805633
“Milner’s touch has been poor for awhile, and I hate to say anything slightly bad about him with the professionalism he’s shown.”
– StrongINTheAir on the forums.
12 minutes in & Milner's already given possession away 4 times unnecessarily. Seems slow/hesitant to react.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 25, 2017
Southampton began to target Liverpool’s right-hand side…
Too much space in behind the fullbacks but it's the risk we have to take
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) January 25, 2017
TAA is doing well offensively & in possession but defensively struggling vs the movement & pace he's facing. Getting caught out repeatedly
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 25, 2017
A good 10 minutes from Nathan Redmond. Joel Matip not so comfortable now
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) January 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/KopLeft/status/824356354848686081
Southampton's game plan working perfectly here. They've got the pace to play well on the break. That's two big chances they've missed.
— Andy Kelly (@AndyK_LivNews) January 25, 2017
Can went close as Forster spilled his strike onto the line…
How's he got away with that!! Great recovery save from Forster to somehow keep it out!
— Neil Mellor (@NeilMellor33) January 25, 2017
“Not our night.”
– Dark Metal on the forums.
I mean, I sound like an old man, but back in my day… pic.twitter.com/A1qAGHaUdB
— Nik Postinger (@nikpostinger) January 25, 2017
It's a goal in my opinion ?!! @LFC 0 VS Southampton 0 pic.twitter.com/PwPND4QetD
— Luis Garcia (@luchogarcia14) January 25, 2017
Before Sturridge scooped the ball over from point-blank range…
Unbelievable
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) January 25, 2017
Oh dear
— Joseph Cousins (@JCuzzy1) January 25, 2017
“Much better, but no more profligacy, please. Sturridge had plenty of time on that chance…”
– NorseDweller in the comments section.
This proved the story of the night as Liverpool crashed out of the cup…
It's been too much of a dry January for #LFC.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) January 25, 2017
What a difference a month makes… #LFC
— Jack Williams (@JLWi11iams) January 25, 2017
Saints more than merit that over two legs. Really bad moment for LFC and things have to change quickly. Top 6 will cut weakest in league.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) January 25, 2017
“We seem to be in a collective fug of tippy tappy, nicey nicey football.
Yes we miss Mane, but the players that we have available, should be able to cope.”
– BhupendraS on the forums.
Liverpool only played well for one of the four halves in the tie. A potentially amazing season is under threat of unraveling completely…
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) January 25, 2017
In truth there are deeper problems than this defeat for #LFC. Performances been going backwards since mid-Dec. Now results catching up.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) January 25, 2017
“1 win in 7 and barely scored a goal. It’s official, we’ve completely lost it.
– Mark Peers on Facebook.
https://twitter.com/paul_tomkins/status/824376815275884548
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/824359998268522503
Without Sadio Mane, it has become a little Rodgers-esque. We are easy to defend and counter against. Rethink required. #Klopp #lfc
— LFCZA ?? (@LFCZA) January 25, 2017
So unfortunate with all the injuries and no one could predict losing Mané for the whole of January
— SimonBrundish (@SimonBrundish) January 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheKopMagazine/status/824375766989291521
Very disappointing night for LFC. Didn't take moments had. Credit to Southampton for the way they performed over 2legs to progress to final
— Neil Mellor (@NeilMellor33) January 25, 2017
Fan Comments