Liverpool 0, Southampton 1 (0-2, Aggregate): First Thoughts

Liverpool 0:
Southampton 1: Long 90+1’

• Pre-match Thoughts: So, this is our third League Cup semifinal in a row. The in the first we fell to Mourinho’s Chelsea on away goals. Last year we squeaked through on penalties against Stoke before eventually falling to Manchester City in the final. This year? I guess we’ll see. Daniel Sturridge leads the line, and it looks like the Adam Lallana as a winger experiment has ended. Thank Fowler. Crowd should be rocking tonight. Come on you Redmen!
• Is...is Sturridge actually pressing? Holy gegenpressing, Jürgen!
• Southampton nearly find a way through on their first attack of the game, despite Liverpool dominating the early stages. So, par for the course, really.
• A quarter of an hour gone and Sturridge produces the first shot on target of the night. The shot was the result of some great pressing by Adam Lallana, but it was weak and straight at the ‘keeper.
• Wow, Dejan Lovren just got away with Skrtel-esque pulling in the box on a free kick. If Yoshida goes down there it’s a definite penalty. Careful!
• Liverpool are, by and large, dominating possession this half. But. But when Southampton counter, they’ve looked extremely dangerous. It’s easy to over-commit when down a goal, but the Reds will need to keep their concentration defensively in order to stay in this one.
• Big chance for Southampton, as the visitors spring yet another dangerous counter. Thankfully Karius was quick off his line, and able to smoother Tadic’s chance.
• And yet another big chance for the Saints on yet another counter attack! This time Steven Davis found himself free in the box, but sent his first-time shout deep into the Kop, and the crisis is averted for now.
• Halftime Thoughts: To the shock of absolutely no one, Liverpool are having trouble breaking down a deep-sitting defense, and also struggling against the counter attack. Klopp’s men have over 70% possession, but have only managed two shots on goal, both from outside the area, and both straight at the ‘keeper. If Liverpool want to advance, they’ll have to do something they haven’t managed in 225 minutes against Southampton this season: score a damned goal.
• Five minutes into the second half and Karius comes up big, gathering up a very dangerous Southampton cross, and then springing a dangerous counter for the Reds, evenutally leading to a corner.
• I literally don’t know how Emre Can didn’t score there. His cannon of a shot, richocheted of the ‘keeper and spun toward the goal. Forster recovered just in the nick of time to claw the ball off the line. Unluckeeeee.
• Liverpool go close again, this time off a corner. Sturridge very nearly wraps his foot around a volley, but sends the close range effort over the bar.
• Oh my. Excuse me if this is getting repetitive, but Sturridge sends another great chance over the bar. The chance was the result of some incredible one-touch passing through the Southampton defense, and a stretching Sturridge just couldn’t guide the final ball home.
• Seventy minutes gone, and panic has begun to set in. The passing has become sloppy, and the Anfield crowd, who up to this point has been great, is showing signs of nervousness.
• And now Philippe Coutinho goes close. This time his curling effort goes just wide of the far post, and the Reds go on searching for an answer.
• Divock Origi comes on for Can. Emre had a decent game tonight, but he had to make way for the Belgian striker who should, theoretically, be more of a goal scoring threat.
• Georginio Wijnaldum comes on for Coutinho. Now would be a good time to score, Gini.
• Sturridge should have earne
• Goal. Southampton put the tie to bed with a quick counter. Well, that was fun.
• Final Whistle Thoughts: Southampton are through to their first League Cup final since 1979, and it’s well-deserved. Their run through the competition has been impressive, and their three clean sheets against Liverpool this season even more so. Now, do us a favor, Saints, and beat the Mancs.

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.