Red Card Trouble As Liverpool Edge Southampton in EFL Cup Thriller

 

Liverpool held their nerve to beat Southampton 2-1, despite losing Hugo Ekitike to a red card, and advance to the fourth round of the EFL Carabao Cup. 

While Arne Slot’s side showed moments of control, it was a night defined more by chaos than calm capped by a wild red-card celebration from match-winner Hugo Ekitike. It was a game packed with twists, controversy, and late drama,

Just before the halftime break, Federico Chiesa's cut-back landed rightly for Alexander Isak. The striker wasted no time and blasted the ball into the net. In the 78th minute. Joshua Quarshie picked out Shea Charles in the box with a clever ball across the face of goal, and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting it in off the right post.

Hugo Ekitike, who was already booked for protesting a decision earlier, pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired home what would be the match-winner in the 85th minute. In the heat of the moment. In the 86th, Ekitike was red carded for protesting the referee's decision. 

Down to 10 men, Liverpool dug deep to protect their lead. Slot’s team dropped into a compact defensive shape, seeing out the final minutes with composure. Southampton, disorganized and out of ideas, could not find a late answer.