Liverpool hit Southampton for a six
Reds continue resurgence under Klopp to demolish Saints and make it to Cup quarters
Divock Origi opened his Liverpool account with a hattrick and Daniel Sturridge scored twice in a 6-1 demolition of Southampton on Wednesday in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Sadio Mane headed Southampton in front after 39 seconds, but Sturridge marked his first start since October 4 with a quick-fire brace and 20-year-old Belgian striker Origi claimed a treble as the visitors roared back, with substitute Jordon Ibe also on target. The result continued the resurgence at Liverpool since the appointment of manager Jurgen Klopp, whose side have lost just one of the 11 games since he took over, winning seven of the last eight.
“We do not have magic ideas,” said Klopp, whose team were drawn against Stoke City in the last four, leaving open the possibility of a meeting with either Manchester City or local rivals Everton in the final.
“It’s about working hard. You cannot be in Liverpool because of the weather, so it must be because of the football club.”
Southampton had been bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1986-87, but dreams of a first major final since 2003 quickly faded as they sank to their heaviest home defeat since March 1959.
“That is not the result we expect,” Southampton manager Ronald Koeman told Sky Sports. “If you make the mistakes defensively we did in the first half and with the top quality of Liverpool, then you can lose.”