League Cup: Southampton 1-6 Liverpool- Five Talking Points
Liverpool knocked the living daylights out of Southampton as a Daniel Sturridge brace and a Divock Origi hat-trick smashed the listless hosts for six to canter into the semi-finals of the League Cup for a record 16th time.The Saints flew out of the blocks when Sadio Mane put them on the front foot after just 41 seconds with a well-taken header, but it was all Liverpool from thereon as a quick-fire double from the returning Sturridge and another one from Origi gave the visitors a commanding 3-1 comeback lead at the break.Even in the second half, Jurgen Klopp’s troops held the hegemony over the game and Origi struck two more on either side of Jordan Ibe’s strike to round off his hat-trick. After a bright start to the game, Southampton faded into mediocrity and were made to wipe the floor by a far superior visiting side.With Stoke City now lying in wait for the Reds in the last four, here are some of the talking points from the lopsided affair at the St.Mary’s.
#1 Sturridge back with a bang
Following a couple of weeks on the sidelines through injury, Liverpool target man Daniel Sturridge made his return to the foray and how. The striker bagged a brilliant brace that sparked Liverpool’s comeback into the game and put on a sparkling display in the final third for the visitors.
In his first start under Klopp, Sturridge made his mark with a sumptuous strike from a tight angle, shifting the ball to his left leg to unleash a searing low drive past Sketelenberg just minutes before the half hour mark. While the away fans were still celebrating the England international’s leveller, the former Chelsea man popped with his second just minutes later, when he tapped the ball through the legs of the Dutch shot-stopper, latching on to Emre Can’s exquisite chipped cross.
What initially seemed to be a long night for the Reds after Southampton's bright start, quickly turned on its head after two moments of brilliance from the 26-year old, who returned to action for Liverpool with a wham.