major events
87 minutes: Núñez, in the center circle, casually throws the ball out for a throw to the left. That throw leads to a corner, but although the Saints pack the box, Fernandes is left bloodied on the head and the set piece is ruled straight out of play.
85 minutes: The Danes, like McConnell and Kwansa, have come out for Nyoni, one of Liverpool’s young heroes in this year’s final.
84 minutes: Another Saints double change, with Aribo and Bednarek making way for Brereton Diaz and former Liverpool player Lallana.
83 minutes: Morton took over possession and allowed Manning and Onuachu to cause some trouble on the left flank. Nyoni is related to the resulting cross. But the Saints came again, Suleiman whizzing in a low ball from the same flank. Onuachu swings and misses, by six yards, and Tsimikas is cleared.
81 minutes: Tsimikas crosses from the left. Nunez lands a spectacular bicycle kick and only disturbs the surrounding air. Full marks for ambition.
79 minutes: …So having said that, Liverpool manage to slow things down a bit and regain some sort of control. Pulitzer, please!
77 minutes: Liverpool are trying to slow things down and regain some kind of control. But the saints are interfering in everything and are not allowing them to do so. This game is going to have a fun ending, one way or another.
75 minutes: A free kick for the Saints on the right. Fernandes turns it in. Onuachu is free, six yards out, and chest down, then refreshes his kick! The flag went up for offside, although Chiesa was playing it. No VAR, remember. Another close shave for Liverpool.
73 minutes: Saints undergo double transformation. Archer and Downes made way for Onuachu and Suleimana. Onuachu is immediately in the thick of it, moving down the right side, but he runs out of it as he reaches the edge of the box.
71 minutes: It was a great opportunity for Chiesa to open his account at Liverpool and a terrible miss. He makes up for it a bit, bringing down a lofted pass with a gossamer touch on the halfway line, then immediately nutmegging Fernandes. It doesn’t do anything, but what a skill it is.
69 minutes: Jota drives past the Southampton defense and gets to the edge of the Saints’ D. He has the right to shoot, but instead slips Chiesa to his right. Chiesa’s low shot appears to be going left but is deflected out for a corner. Nothing beats the set piece, but now we’re in a position to say it’s a little better liverpoolThe visiting team has done very little in attack during this second half.
67 minutes: We now know the identity of the first semi-finalist: Arsenal have come from behind to send off Crystal Palace. Barry Glendening explains everything in minute-by-minute format.
65 minutes: All this has also got the Southampton crowd excited again. There’s a proper cup-tie atmosphere now, with all corners giving plenty of it.
63 minutes: Another double change for Liverpool, with Gakpo and Mac Allister making way for Jota and McConnell.
62 minutes: Sugawara again crossed from the right, causing further trouble in the Liverpool box. Kwansa is forced to turn back to a corner from which nothing comes. The saint is alive.
61 minutes: Sugawara is immediately in trouble, crossing from the right. Archer gets the ball six yards out, and sidefoots it towards goal. The shot swerved, but Kelleher made a superb point-blank stop and Morton cleared it off the line.
60 minutes: The fourth officer was informed that Archer was about to be replaced. You can be sure that this is no longer happening. But the Saints make a change, subbing the injured Brie for Sugawara.
Target Southampton 1-2 Liverpool (Archer 59)
Thanks to a mix of good luck and talent, the Saints are back at it! Fernandes hits the ball into Endo’s startled face. The ball returns to Archer, who hits the left side, cuts across the infield, and swings an unstoppable shot into the top right! Kelleher had no chance, and it’s back to cup-tie!
58 minutes: Now it’s Bednarek and Nunez’s turn to wrestle the ball. For a second it seems like an affair has started, but the pair embrace to take all the heat out of the situation.
57 minutes: Downes and Elliott are booked for some rough-house wrestling in the center circle. All a bit unnecessary.
55 minutes: Gakpo quickly broke down the left side and cut across the infield. His low cross was headed home by Nunez at the penalty spot. Nunez attempted to stop McAllister, but Bednarek blocked him, and yet the flag popped up for offside.
53 minutes: Everyone’s passing becomes a little sloppy again.
51 minutes: Clear that up, Brie is okay to continue, although he’s still holding on tightly to that waist. Liverpool’s corner, meanwhile, is a non-event.
49 minutes: Liverpool settled the matter with some sterile dominance. Tsimikas then pinged a pass from the left in hopes of releasing Gakpo. Brie comes forward to swing the ball into a corner, then turns his back and goes down. The way he is gesturing to the bench, it does not seem that he will be able to move forward.
47 minutes: The half got off to a bad start as everyone changed foot.
Liverpool started the second half clean, making two changes at the break. Alexander-Arnold and Gomez made way for Tsimikas and Chiesa, who both returned from injury.
Half time entertainment. A memory of better days for Saints fans. There is an argument for naming it the best First Division/Premier League goal of all time.
Half Time: Southampton 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool’s experimental side are at good value for their two-goal lead. The Saints can take a much better assist from a two-goal half-time deficit than five. baby steps.
45 minutes: …Manning stuck it into a six-yard mixer. Kelleher punched clear under pressure from Archer, and won a free kick to boot. There will be one minute of extra time in the first half.
44 minutes: Archer, coming in from the left, delivers a pass towards Dibbling on the right. Dibbling prepares to advance but Gomez snatches the ball off his toe at the cost of a throw. But with that throw, Brie did well on the flank and won a corner from Endo. With whom …
43 minutes: Kwansa tries to release Gakpo down the left with an ambitious crossfield pass, but he heads past him. The ball disappears into the stands behind.
42 minutes: However, it’s better than the Saints’, as Fernandes bursts down the left on the overlap, gets to the byline, and sinks in the mixer. Brie runs in hoping to connect, but only succeeds in running a slap-bang into Gomez. Kelleher carries Cruse away from danger.
40 minutes: Liverpool are taking it forward with great confidence. The Saints are struggling to maintain any kind of possession. Dibbling tries his best to do something right but Endo and Gomez make sure he is thrown out of the game.
38 minutes: Morton keeps himself busy down the left and earns a corner. McAllister’s aim hits Nunez at the near post. Nunez attempted a backward header which came up short. Saint clears his line.