Red Card, Injury, and a Late Winner: Liverpool’s Wild Night
Liverpool are through to the next round of the Carabao Cup – but their win over Southampton had everything: an early goal, missed chances, a dramatic finish, and even a red card that left Anfield shaking its head.
Dream Start for Isak
It took less than a minute for Alexander Isak to show why Liverpool paid a record fee for him. Curtis Jones pounced on sloppy play at the back, Federico Chiesa slipped him the ball, and Isak coolly swept it past Alex McCarthy. A perfect first goal in red – and a perfect welcome to Anfield.
The visitors, though, didn’t fold. Adam Armstrong tested Giorgi Mamardashvili with a sharp strike, then rattled the crossbar with a delicate chip. Somehow, Léo Scienza failed to nod home the rebound with the goal wide open. Liverpool had been warned.
Southampton Hit Back
Liverpool looked shaky at times, and Southampton made them pay after the break. A Wataru Endo misclearance led to Shea Charles scoring his first goal for the Saints, sparking real belief in the away end.
By then, Giovanni Leoni – making his debut after a summer move – had already impressed with a composed performance at the back. But disaster struck late on when the 18-year-old fell awkwardly, clutching his knee. The fear is serious injury, and Arne Slot could only hope for good news after the final whistle.
Ekitiké’s Big Moment (and Big Mistake)
With the tie heading toward penalties, Andy Robertson delivered a perfect long ball into Chiesa’s path. The Italian controlled brilliantly and squared for Hugo Ekitiké to tap in. The forward wheeled away in delight, ripped off his shirt, and was promptly shown a second yellow card.
The celebration soured his night – and he will now miss the weekend’s league match. Even Slot admitted it was “stupid,” though he praised the striker for apologising immediately. On Instagram, Ekitiké admitted emotions got the better of him but promised to learn from the mistake.
A Win with a Price
For Liverpool, it was yet another late winner – their sixth in seven games – keeping alive their reputation for last-minute drama. But it came with concerns: a suspension for Ekitiké, the loss of Leoni, and a reminder that nothing comes easy, even for the Premier League leaders.
Still, with Isak off the mark and Chiesa dazzling once again, Slot’s side move on. The road to Wembley is alive and kicking – and Liverpool’s never-say-die spirit rolls on.
