Southampton 1 Liverpool 2: Arne Slot watches on from stands as much-changed Reds cling on to reach last four

ARNE SLOT will have enjoyed the shelter of Southampton’s press box, but he will not have been sitting comfortably.

The Liverpool manager, in the stands due to suspension, watched as his much changed side had to hang on to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Southampton had looked to be waving the holders through to the last four after a tepid first half.

It had not been much better than the performance against Tottenham on Sunday which got Russell Martin sacked.

Liverpool took advantage, with Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott giving them a comfortable lead.

But changes at the break and a step up from Saints made for a tense second half – sparked by Cameron Archer’s strike.

Simon Rusk, the Under-21s coach who only arrived in the summer, was given the ‘privilege’ of stepping in as interim following Martin’s sacking.

It is not an attractive job for many coaches, but fans will at least take comfort that Rusk got them showing some fight – eventually.

The former Brighton, Nottingham Forest and England youth coach named a strong side given there is little need to save players for their doomed Premier League campaign.

Slot had left seven first team regulars, including Mohammed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, on Merseyside.

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Van Dijk’s absence and Ibrahima Konate being injured meant midfielder Wataru Endo started at centre-back, while teenager Trey Nyoni was handed a full debut.

If Martin was watching from home, he would not have liked that the first action without him in the dugout was a lumped ball forwards from kick-off.

While that drew some ironic cheers, there was soon a sign that Southampton’s woes had not all been down to Martin as more mistakes – and the rank weather – combined to give Liverpool the open.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain on the night, spun away from Matheus Fernandes deep in his own half and looked to thread a left-footed ball through for Nunez.

Jan Bednarek swung a leg at the pass and sent the ball looping towards his own goal, dropping in acres of space for the Liverpool striker.

Alex McCarthy dropped instead of coming out to engage Nunez and slipped on the greasy surface, making it easy for the Uruguayan to finish before cocking his ear to the home fans – who had been calling him a “s*** Andy Carroll”.

The goal saw Southampton drop, in an effort to avoid crumbling like they did against Spurs, and afforded Liverpool control.

But this Southampton defence is one of the most obliging in Europe and, despite having one bank of five and another of four ahead, still left gaps.

Cody Gakpo drifted into one of those, before exchanging passes with Endo and feeding Elliott.

The tenacious midfielder controlled well and saw his shot take a slight deflection off Ryan Manning before nestling in the back of the net.

Their progress had been so straightforward in the first half that Slot decided to hook Alexander-Arnold, who had been dictating, at the break.

Another one resting up, as Federico Chiesa was sent on for some precious minutes while Joe Gomez was also given the second half off.

But Southampton hit back, in comical and clinical fashion.

The lively Fernandes looked to thump a ball forwards but sent it square into Endo’s face.

With the Japanese midfield starry-eyed on the floor the ball fell for Archer, who cut inside Jarrell Quansah and Tyler Morton before lashing into the far post.

St. Mary’s was suddenly alive and would have erupted if, two minutes later, Archer had managed to convert a far easier chance.

Sub Yuki Sugawara bent a cross into the small striker, whose soft touch allowed Kelleher to save before Morton hooked clear. Neither should have been given a chance.

Despite being tested, Liverpool continued to hook the experienced figures as Alexis Mac Allister and then Gakpo were replaced.

Amidst the wind and rain there was a sense that, despite all their failings, Southampton had a chance here.

They were much improved and caused continuous problems.

Liverpool had the opportunity to extinguish that hope, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis recovered to block from Chiesa on the line – as he would do in added time.

Rusk sent on towering striker Paul Onuachu, who within seconds had pinched the ball from Nyoni but could not take advantage of the break.

The striker, dubbed Tall Paul, should have grabbed a leveller when meeting Kamaldeen Sulemana’s cross, but miss-hit and wasted the opportunity.

The hosts rained long throws and corners into their box and had a huge injury time penalty shout waved away as Quansah dragged down Fernandes.

Liverpool were now the ones looking ropey, but just about managed to hang on.