Liverpool routs Southampton 6-1 in League Cup quarterfinals

Divock Origi had not scored in any of his first ten matches for Liverpool, but bagged a hat-trick tonight as The Reds mercilessly scythed apart Southampton in rampant fashion.

If you analyse Liverpool’s first goal, it’s a throw-in, if you see how easy they play out and score the goal, that’s not good, and that can’t happen at this level. Liverpool won 6-1 and will play Stoke City in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.

Jurgen Klopp used his Southampton post-match interviews to praise strike duo Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, but warned that we shouldn’t expect the injury-prone hit man to become a permanent fixture in his side.

Liverpool have been a different force under their new manager and at St Mary’s they continued their explosive streak away from home.

The forward marked his return with a vintage display, demonstrating just how valuable he can be to Liverpool if he keeps himself fit. He took both goals brilliantly, beating Steven Caulker for the opener before dispatching a clinical half-volley for his second four minutes later.

Fielding a half-rotated side for his side’s trip to the south coast to take on Southampton, Klopp saw his bold approach rewarded with a 6-1 win at St. Mary’s.

The 6-1 defeat represented Southampton’s worst at home for 56 years, since a 6-0 loss to Brentford in March 1959, and while criticising his team for making it “too easy” for Liverpool, their manager, Ronald Koeman, accepted responsibility for the attacking changes which he said ultimately increased their deficit.

After delivering yet another statement performance, they are in a position of endless possibilities: there seems to be no ceiling to what the Reds could attain in this campaign.

“It’s important we just get back to basics maybe and get back to doing what we were good at and make sure we work hard and get back to keeping clean sheets and hopefully winning games”, he added.

“We qualified for the semi-finals and the team performance was very strong”, the 20-year-old told Sky Sports. “We knew coming into this game that Liverpool are full of confidence and their offensive threat that they carry”.

Graziano Pelle slid Mane in behind the Liverpool defence to present Southampton their first opportunity of the second half, but Dejan Lovren recovered well to block, before substitute Shane Long nodded wide from Tadic’s chipped cross shortly after. We didn’t have the best start but we showed a great mentality as a team.

Sturridge made his first start for two months, his first under Klopp, and scored two excellent goals, one with either foot, in the first half.

“I have absolutely no problems with a match against Everton”, he said.