SAINTS IN HEAVEN
Long leaves it late to secure a spot in final
SHANE LONG scored in stoppagetime to spark amazing scenes at Anfield as Southampton reached Wembley and the EFL Cup final.
Long struck after a breakaway in a match where his goalkeeper Fraser Forster had made a stunning save to scramble away a shot by Emre Can as the ball was heading over the line.
JURGEN KLOPP had never lost a semi-final in a cup competition in Germany or here in England before last night.
But on a night of growing frustration for Liverpool and at the start of a week that will do much to set their mood for what will come between now and May that proud record crashed – Shane Long breaking away to score in the 90th minute and complete a 2-0 aggregate win.
Southampton had brought with them the comfort blanket of a 1-0 lead and on a miserably cold night it looked enough to book their place at Wembley – for the first time since 1979 in this competition.
Then Long’s fine finish after a 60-yard run and pass from substitute Josh Sims clinched that final, at the end of next month, where they will play either Hull or Manchester United. Klopp had conceded in the build-up to this game he had sensed a drop in belief around Anfield, admitting that the positivity had ebbed during the opening weeks of the year.
As well it might given his side had posted just one win in six – a 1-0 victory over League Two opposition in Plymouth in a replay that he and his players could have done without.
And if ever a night was designed to numb the senses further last night was it, with a biting wind and a sub-zero feel for all but the 20 outfield players on the pitch.
On its own that was enough to leave the Anfield faithful sitting uncomfortably on the edge of their seats and, in truth, the opening 45 minutes did little to beat away the chill.
Nathan Redmond had scored one and might have had a hattrick had the fates been with him in the home leg.
Yet in the opening period Southampton looked vibrant and confident with Liverpool taking 15 minutes before they brought Fraser Forster into the game, Daniel Sturridge turning on the edge of the area and hitting a left-foot shot, which the Southampton keeper gathered at his feet.
Saints with five men in the midfield line did much to stifle Liverpool’s build-up play.
In truth that was too often ponderous and the final pass for Klopp’s men misplaced. Roberto Firmino had another shot from distance after 18 minutes but it was the visitors who created the best chances of the half on the counter.
Redmond had been the key to Southampton pressure in the first leg and last night he created all sorts of panic on Liverpool’s right flank.
His run, ghosting easily through Trent AlexanderArnold and Joel Matip on Liverpool’s right flank after 35 minutes saw him cut the ball back to Dusan Tadic only for Loris Karius to come off his line and produce a fine smothering save.
Four minutes later Redmond repeated the trick only for Steven Davis to hit his effort into the hoardings behind.
Emerging after the break it was the home side who looked galvanised, finally getting Adam Lallana into the match. With the half five minutes old, Sturridge and the former Southampton man combined on the right edge of the Saints box, Lallana taking the ball around Ryan Bertrand to the right byline only for the angle to close on him.
Pressure was building though and four minutes later Emre Can fired a shot which Forster initially fumbled, up and over himself but reacted brilliantly to dive back and paw the ball
away as it was crossing the line. Sturridge was the next to go close getting on the end of a cross from James Milner that Long inadvertently put back in the danger area, only for his volley from five yards to go.
A growing sense this might not be Liverpool’s night gathered when Sturridge finished off a fine move by poking the ball over and Philippe Coutinho fluffed a shot.