Southampton 1-0 Liverpool: EFL Cup semi-final as it happened

Full-time: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool

Lovren makes an important sliding challenge on Ward-Prowse who had two men waiting in the middle for his pass. Liverpool mount forward on the counter with Origi driving down the left, but as he reaches the byline the ball comes back off him and out for a goal kick. That should be that...

Coutinho drops a shoulder, cuts the ball onto his right foot and.... fires a wild effort over the bar. Southampton won't mind that. Just two more minutes for them to ride this out.

Four minutes of time added on at St Mary's.

James Milner just trapped the ball with his chin there. Outstanding.

Four minutes of the 90 left. It's all got a but anxious around St Mary's. Southampton have had plenty of chances to kill this off, but Liverpool could still bite back here.

Southampton denied a second ! Shane Long, just off the bench, races down the left to put Lucas under pressure and succeeds in doing so, robbing the Brazilian of the ball and cutting inside. He prods the ball across goal to Redmond who opts for the delicate chip, lifting it over Karius, but not under the crossbar. It bounces off the woodwork and Liverpool hack it clear.

Rodriguez is now shown a yellow card for hauling back Klavan. That will be his last action of the game with Shane Long coming onto replacing him. James Ward-Prowse also enters the fray for Steven Davies.

Coutinho has been Liverpool's best player since coming on but this time his effort on goal is a poor one, scooping a wild shot well over the bar.

Daniel Sturridge is handed a note by Klopp... but looks a tad puzzled after scanning it.

Coutinho again tries to dance his way through but Southampton defender resiliently. Romeu then gets the ball on the edge of his own box, shimmying past Lucas before winning a free kick for his side. Great play from the former Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder.

Pass it Cedric! The full-back makes a lung-bursting break down the inside right and into the box, where he is picked out by Tadic. Rodriguez is across him, waiting for a square ball to tap home but the Portuguese instead shoots, firing wildly into the side netting. Awful decision making there.

Coutinho drifts out to the left and darts menacingly into the box, drawing Yoshida out to make an important challenge. Already they look the more dangerous.

And here he is, Philippe Coutinho comes on for his first appearance since late November, replacing Wijnaldum.

Coutinho is now warming up to come on.

That will go down well at St Mary's. Adam Lallana winds back his left foot to shoot from range but screws a weak effort well wide of goal.

Daniel Sturridge has had an awfully frustrating night tonight. I think you could count the number of touches he's had all night on one hand.

Liverpool are looking sloppy and Southampton are looking dangerous on the break. Rodriguez is left to leave the charge on his own but does brilliantly to hold the ball up and wait for support from Tadic. He finds the Serbian but his cross is charged down.

Karius unconvincingly punches the ball away but the decision goes Liverpool's way. Goal kick.

From a tight angle, Tadic tries to bend one in the far corner but a Liverpool defender nuts it over the bar for a corner.

Milner just about drags the ball out of Cedric's path as the full-back makes a run down the right and he keeps the pressure on the Liverpool man, nicking the ball away before winning a free kick for his side on the edge of the box.

And Liverpool get us back underway for the second half.

Half-time: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool

Karius denies Redmond a second! It's terrible defending from Liverpool as Bertrand is allow to trot inside after a throw in and slide a ball into Rodriguez. He turns and slides it across the face of goal where Redmond is approaching, but his effort is saved instinctively by the Liverpool goalkeeper. It's a fine stop, but the Southampton forward really should have been looking for the far corner.

Philippe Coutinho trots down the touchline for a warm-up. How long before Jurgen Klopp looks to him to liven up his side?

Southampton are under pressure but Tadic does well to win a free kick for his side on the half-way line to relieve some of that. The home side then spring down the right again, with Cedric freeing the overlapping Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with a delightful flick. Just as the Dane is about to cut into the box however he is cut down after a strong challenge from Lucas. Free kick? Nope, play is waved on and replays show the Brazilian got just about enough of the ball.

Loris Karius thought Redmond was offside for Southampton's opener. He was wrong.

That's a deserved lead for Southampton too. Liverpool had lots of early possession but after Fraser Forster was called into action, the home side sprung into action and got their reward.

Southampton take the lead! Oh dear, Klavan, what are you doing there. The Liverpool centre-half drops deep while the rest of his defence steps up, allowing Redmond to scamper onto Rodriguez through ball miles onside. After a neat first touch, he slots past Karius to give his side the lead.

Goal! Southampton 1-0 Liverpool (Nathan Redmond, 20)

Now Karius makes a fine stop! Southampton spring into life after that Liverpool chance with Cedric bursting down the right, reaching the byline before cutting a cross in. Rodriguez is inches away from reaching it in the middle, but instead it drops to Redmond, who sees his low effort blocked by the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Good save from Forster! It;'s lazy defending from Southampton as Lallana heads a high ball back across goal for Firmino who breaks into the six yard area unmarked to smash a half volley on goal. It has power, but no direction, hit straight at the Southampton goalkeeper who pushes it wide.

This has been pretty boring so far. Southampton started brightly but Liverpool, decked out in garish luminous away number, have had hold of the ball since, with lots of square passing and not much penetration.

Scratch that, the big Dutchman is now back to his feet and play continues without him receiving any treatment.

Uh oh. Virgil van Dijk is down clutching is back and looks in a bit of pain.

Liverpool are enjoying the greater spell of possession in this opening 10 minutes but Southampton seem content to let them have the ball in front of goal.

Liverpool come forward for the first time and Southampton carelessly find themselves in a two on one situation at the far post, with Cedric left to deal with Can and Lallana. Luckily for them, the latter's first touch lets him down and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

Virgil van Dijk almost picks Nathan Redmond out with a beautiful lofted ball from just inside the Liverpool half but there is just too much on it and the ball rolls out of play.

And Southampton get us underway.

Just five minutes until kick-off at St Mary's.

Lucas starts in his preferred midfield role this evening but his days at the club look to be numbered. The Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to Inter Milan and admits his situation at Anfield could be better.

The situation is not great. It is not something I want for my future to have not many games, but at this moment I have to deal with this and try to find a solution when I have the chance. I have to be professional, think about the team and see what is going to happen. I don't want this for my career, especially at my age.

Claude Puel has made seven changes to the side that were held to a 2-2 draw with Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday. Maya Yoshida and Virgil van Dijk retain their places, although the Saints boss doesn't really have much else choice given Jose Fonte's current exile.

Daniel Sturridge's importance to this Liverpool team has dwindled somewhat since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, but it was on this ground were he proved to the German just how effective he can be. Two months into Klopp's tenure Sturridge returned from injury to score twice at St Mary's, helping Liverpool book their place in the semi-finals of this competition in a 6-1 win.

Cedric returns at right-back with Jordy Clasie and Oriol Romeu reforming their partnership in midfield. Jay Rodriguez and Nathan Redmond also return to the starting XI in attack, while Josh Sims drops to bench along with James Ward-Prowse.

Southampton team to face Liverpool: Forster, Cédric, van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand, Clasie, Romeu, Davis, Tadić, Redmond, Rodriguez.

Unsurprisingly, Jurgen Klopp has made plenty of changes to the side that drew with Plymouth with Loris Karius, Lucas Leiva and Emre Can the only ones to retain their places tonight. Philippe Coutinho is in the Reds squad for the first time since November; expect him to get some minutes late on.

Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip remain out.

Ben Woodburn and Joe Gomez are also named among the Liverpool subs. Lucas Leiva starts in a holding midfield role.

Liverpool team to face Southampton: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge

BREAKING: Loris Karius continues in goal while Daniel Sturridge leads in attack. Phillipe Coutinho starts on the bench.

Team news – Liverpool

Skipper Jordan Henderson could be in contention to return at Old Trafford, but tonight's match on the south coast is likely to come too soon. Joel Matip has also returned to training, but will not be called upon tonight.

Team news – Liverpool

Klopp claimed this week it was "pretty likely" that much-maligned goalkeeper Loris Karius would retain the gloves at St Mary's ahead Simon Mignolet. The German shot stopper was named in the starting XI on Sunday against Plymouth.

Team news – Southampton

As mentioned, Jose Fonte will have no role to play tonight. Here is what his manager said this week

José doesn't participate in this game. We will see for the next game. But, for the moment, and with the situation of José, it's important to keep the stability in defence.

On Coutinho, Jurgen Klopp said this week:

I think Phil is fit enough for being part of the squad. That means it could be minutes, how much I don't know. It depends on the game, of course. He is on a very good way.

Team news – Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho is expected to have some role to play tonight after seven weeks out with an ankle injury. The Brazil international returned to training last Friday but Jurgen Klopp opted against bringing him back in against Plymouth. With a meeting with Manchester United looming on Sunday, it seems very unlikely he will play 90 minutes, however.

Jurgen Klopp recorded his first truly emphatic result as Liverpool manager against Southampton in this competition just over a year ago. The Saints were hammered 6-1 on their own turf at the quarter-final stage of the competition, despite Sadio Mane giving the home side the lead inside a minute that night.

The Senegal international isn't around tonight to play against his former side due to his Africa Cup of Nations commitments, but Klopp will field a strong sid after naming the youngest starting XI in the club's history against Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Southampton will do likewise, although don't expect to see Jose Fonte. The Portugal international may have played his last game for the club after handing in a transfer request last week. If he does turn out for the club again, it won't be before the transfer window closes.