Youthful Reds slip and slide into the Last 4 of the Carabao League Cup
Southampton 1 Liverpool 2, 18th December 2024
SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Archer 59)
LIVERPOOL 2 (Núñez 24, Elliott 32)
What is it with Liverpool and their cup tie trips to the south coast counties of my birth and familial tree and the propensity for it being amid the foulest of weather? In recent years: Bournemouth (twice), Brighton (once if not a second time) and last evening, the St Mary’s home of Southampton and through the (swirling) wind and (lashing) rain largely appropriated from the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune famously associated with the Reds, Liverpool walked on, through the wind and rain of an inhospitable south coast of my birth and into the semi-finals of the Carabao League Cup for the umpteenth time. Despite the horrendous weather it was a walk in a south coast park for Liverpool for 45 minutes against an under strength Southampton reeling from the departure of their manager Russell Martin before a second half thrown into uncertainty by Cameron Archer’s fortuitous 59th minute goal. What wasn’t so lucky was Caoimhin Kelleher’s brilliantly instinctive close-in save a minute later to deny Archer an undeserved equaliser and at 2–1, and through those blustery winds and driving rain, the Reds walked on, as defending champions and cup holders lest we forget, and through to the last 4 of English football’s first domestic cup football tournament of the season.
A much changed and youthful Liverpool team containing a 17 year old, two 21 year old’s and a 22 year old (with 18 year old Jayden Danns and 20 year old James McConnell also featuring as second half substitutes) eased past a dreadful Southampton in a comfortable first half before the high anxiety and unexpected stress of the second but no matter, Tyler Morton, at an almost ancient 22 years old, was calmness personified in the centre of the park, Trey Nyoni belied his tender 17 years with another energetic display that bodes well for his blossoming future and Harvey Elliott, still only 21 years of age remember, continues to prove his internet doubters wrong with a beautiful goal and a “Man of the Match” display to match. Of the seniors: Darwin Núñez pleasingly scored, Alexis Mac Allister bossed an empty midfield, Cody Gakpo continues to impress in a season full of highs for the Dutchman and skipper for the evening Trent Alexander-Arnold guided the young troops around him. Oh, and the unrequited love of my Liverpool life Wataru Endō seemed to play wherever he liked and it was a joy to see the old man again (sorry Wataru!)
The Reds will therefore barge their way into the new year still in every competition they entered in August, top of the Champions League and (hopefully) still top of the Premier League. Not bad for a boss only in the job since June! Let’s see what he thought of last night’s events.
Arne’s Afterword
“It would be normal if I play with all the regular starters that we have a better team than we have tonight otherwise I make every week the wrong decision. Maybe it’s a possibility! We also trust these players because we know how much quality they have. Harvey Elliott already had a good impact in the game at the weekend against Fulham, so it was good to see he is able to play 90 for him today and even score a goal. Started him off on the right, I felt he almost got a bit bored and didn’t touch the ball a lot, so after 15–20 minutes we changed his position and were playing him in the midfield. We know he is a better midfielder than he is a winger, but we had to do it like this. So that was pleasing to see”.
“If I have to give someone a big compliment it should be Wata Endo because in a different position playing such a good game in these circumstances, that shows you what a quality player he is, but mainly maybe what kind of mentality and personality he has. Good to see them both, but I think it was not only them. We have already a few starters from our Academy and to see these players that train with us on a daily basis, we know their quality, so it’s nice to see that they show it on a Premier League level that they can easily play at this level”.
Thanks for reading. I pen my thoughts on every Liverpool game and in recent seasons, with the addition of numerous pieces of retro writing on Reds games of the past, I’ve curated and created the following two self-published books:
"A final word from The Boss" - link to Amazon
"Chasing the Impossible and a Sword of Damocles" - link to Amazon
Whilst you’re here I may as well brag about the release of my latest self-published book (Sunday 8th December 2024) as it’s a real doozy and a pride and joy from my English summer. Free to read if you subscribe to Amazon Kindle “Unlimited” or reasonably priced in both paperback and hardback. Go on, treat yourself or a loved one this Christmas and help out an Indie Author!
Buy the book if you’re financially able to.
We HAVE to keep the spirit of reading books alive and well.
Thanks.
"My Ironbridge Summer" - link to Amazon
Thanks for reading. I hope this message in a bottle in The Matrix finds you well, prospering, and the right way up in an upside down world.