Carabao cup: Isak scores first goal as ten-man Liverpool beat Southampton

Alexander Isak claimed his first goal for Liverpool before Hugo Ekitike scored the winner and was sent off in a narrow victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round.

Sweden striker Isak finished coolly in the 43rd minute after Federico Chiesa latched onto Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy’s sloppy pass and cut the ball back to Isak.

But the Reds were not at their best and Shea Charles levelled on 76 minutes when Wataru Endo headed back towards his own goal, setting up a nervy final period.

Ekitike, who had replaced Isak at half-time and has impressed since his summer move to Merseyside, put the hosts back in front when Chiesa raced on to the ball and set up the Frenchman to slot home.

But, already on a booking for a foul early in the second half, Ekitike took off his shirt in celebration and was shown red, leaving Liverpool to see out the final four minutes plus added time with 10 men. He is now suspended for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

Manager Arne Slot had made 11 changes to the side that beat Everton on Saturday, and this was a far-from-perfect performance from his young side.

But Liverpool, 10-time winners of the competition, have reached the final in three of the past four seasons and it is that squad depth that they will need to lean on to do the same again.

Ekitike’s productive start to the season, three goals in Liverpool’s five straight Premier League wins, has left Slot with a conundrum over which striker to favour, but Isak got the nod to start on Wednesday as he settles into his new side.

The 26-year-old joined the Reds from Newcastle in the summer for a British record transfer fee of £125m, but is being eased back into match fitness having refused to play in Newcastle’s pre-season friendlies and at the start of the season.

This was just his second start for Liverpool, with his debut coming last week in the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.

Aside from forcing McCarthy into a good save in the opening minute of the match, Isak was kept quiet until he efficiently took his chance for the goal.

But that was to be the last match action of the evening for Isak as he was replaced by Ekitike at half-time and, instead of heading down the tunnel for the team talk, stayed on the pitch to do sprinting drills.

The forward will have perhaps watched with slight concern as Ekitike once again stepped up to score the winner, but the sending-off means Isak will surely get another opportunity to impress at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

(BBC Sport)

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