As Southampton’s Shane Long dashed into the territory to thrash a shot into the net and settle a tense League Cup semi-last against Liverpool, it was a snapshot of powerful satisfaction for the South Coast club. Southampton’s skill in finding and creating ability that they were easily the better side over the two legs of the last-four clash and could have won by a far more noteworthy edge.
Having spurned various chances in the first leg at St Mary’s, they by and by had opportunities to put the attach to bed as they commanded Liverpool in the first half at Anfield. It was then a case of shutting the entryway and ensuring Liverpool did not turn into the first group to break Southampton’s rearguard in the League Cup this season.
Having have looted the Saints for five players at a cost of 91 million pounds ($115 million) in transfer fees since 2014, Liverpool may have anticipated that would have the edge more than 180 minutes of knockout football.
“It is fantastic for all the squad and a good reward for their hard work,” Southampton manager Claude Puel told.
“In the two legs we deserved the win. We were fantastic in the first leg at home and tonight we had chances in the first half.
“In the second half it was difficult but now we go to Wembley, not just to participate but to win this cup.”
With Sadio Mane playing for Senegal in the African Nations Cup and Nathaniel Clyne out harmed, Liverpool just handled two Southampton old boys, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana, at Anfield on Wednesday.
However in ordinary fashion, the star of the show was Nathan Redmond, the player Southampton enrolled when Mane turned into the latest Saints player to leave for Merseyside in the close season.
The main objective in the first leg, Redmond again tormented Liverpool with his fraud in the first half before Jurgen Klopp’s side discovered some mood after the break.
Daniel Sturridge wasted two glorious opportunities to level the tie, yet after they went asking Liverpool again struggled to break however a resilient Saints rearguard.
