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Liverpool are making things look almost too easy, aren’t they?

Not only are they at the top of the Premier League and leading the group stage of the Champions League, but they’ve also reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals for a record 20th time after defeating Southampton at St Mary’s.

Even without Arne Slot on the sidelines due to a one-match suspension for accumulating three yellow cards this season, his team still looked impressive. They spent the first hour of the game shifting between various systems so rapidly that their hosts were left bewildered and unsure how to counter them.

Slot, known for his adaptability, is creating a team that plays with confidence no matter who is on the pitch. The way his team transitioned the ball through the midfield was a pleasure to watch, even with a makeshift lineup.

It’s not uncommon for Liverpool to field a drastically altered team due to injuries and the need to rest players. Yet, for the second consecutive game, a midfielder was called upon to fill in at centre-back and controlled the position as though it was his own.

This time, it was Wataru Endo’s chance to shine in an unfamiliar role — at least in his Liverpool career — after Ryan Gravenberch had done the same in the 2-2 draw against Fulham on Saturday.

Playing in central defence requires a certain toughness, with players needing to be prepared to put their bodies on the line and clear balls with determination. Size is also a factor.

Endo, standing at 178cm (5ft 10in), is smaller than any other player asked to play this role for Liverpool this season, yet showed no signs of struggle, even when up against the towering Southampton striker Paul Onuachu in the final minutes.

“In a different position, playing such a good game like this shows what a quality player he is, but also what his mentality is like,” Slot commented.

Endo was the most fouled player on the field, yet also won the most tackles (four) and duels (10), completing 79% of his 85 passes. Unfortunately, the one moment he was punished came when the ball struck his face, leaving him dazed on the ground but also creating space for Cameron Archer to score. This goal shifted the momentum and gave Southampton a spark that seemed unlikely after Liverpool had cruised to a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

The second-half changes also influenced the final 30 minutes. Tyler Morton, a central midfielder by trade, played most of the second half at right-back, while Jayden Danns, 18, and James McConnell, 20, were brought on to help see out the win.

Once again, Liverpool demonstrated another way to grind out a result, which speaks to how well Slot is preparing them. After dominating for 60 minutes, their performance in the final stages was gritty and resolute. There aren’t many teams in the country who can adapt as quickly and effectively as Liverpool under Slot, and each passing week proves what a shrewd appointment he has been.

Despite a lengthy injury list, Liverpool remain remarkably composed, with only four teams in the Premier League managing to take points from them across 15 matches. In all competitions, Slot has guided the team to 20 wins out of 24 games, a run that has exceeded expectations.

It would have been understandable if the injuries to key players had caused Liverpool to falter during this period, but even when they went down to 10 men against Fulham last weekend, Gravenberch, their standout performer this season, dropped back into central defence and handled the role as if he had been playing there for years.

Endo, who had little time to prepare for this challenge, was equally impressive during Liverpool’s time of need. While he may never have the same skill set as Gravenberch or some of the other midfielders who usually start, and Virgil van Dijk won’t be losing his place to him anytime soon, Endo’s performance in an unfamiliar role without much prior experience was commendable.

With Ibrahima Konate injured, Liverpool’s defensive options are stretched thin, and it’s taking some creative changes and reorganization to guide the team through this period.

However, there’s more to this impressive run than simply moving players around. When Slot first arrived from Feyenoord this summer, he emphasized his desire to make his team so varied and unpredictable that opponents would struggle to identify their system.

This didn’t necessarily mean forcing players like Endo into unfamiliar positions. Rather, his hybrid role — playing in defence when out of possession and shifting into midfield with the ball — was a case of necessity.

It was the constant changes, and the frequency with which they occurred, that really made the difference. From 17-year-old Trey Nyoni switching from side to side, to Elliott dropping deeper to receive the ball, and Alexis Mac Allister subtly finding space to dictate play, Liverpool simply had too much for Southampton in a scenario that many other teams have struggled with this season.

Southampton will begin life after Russell Martin when they host Liverpool at St Mary’s in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday. Martin’s departure followed a humiliating 5-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday, with Simon Rusk stepping in as interim manager.

Match Preview

Southampton faced a challenging December fixture list, with heavy defeats, particularly at home to Chelsea and Spurs, ultimately leading to Martin’s sacking. A disastrous 3-0 deficit in the first 14 minutes of their recent match against Spurs, followed by two more goals before halftime, prompted a mass exit from St Mary’s. Many fans called for Martin’s removal, and that evening, their wish was granted. The loss left Southampton bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety, after suffering their 13th defeat in 16 league games.

The only silver lining under Martin’s tenure was Southampton’s form in the EFL Cup, where they scored nine goals across victories against Cardiff City, Everton (via penalties), and Stoke City. This was a marked improvement over last season’s first-round elimination by Gillingham, and now they aim for a second semi-final appearance in three years. Southampton reached the final in 2017, defeating Liverpool in a two-legged semi-final, avenging a heavy 6-1 defeat to the Reds in the previous season’s quarter-finals.

However, their task ahead will be formidable, as they face the current holders, 10-time champions, and Premier League leaders. New manager Arne Slot will hope to emulate Jurgen Klopp, who has led Liverpool to two of the last three EFL Cups. Slot has navigated through the competition smoothly, defeating top-flight sides like West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion, despite making numerous changes. This makes Liverpool the favorites to lift the trophy again.

Liverpool triumphed at St Mary’s last month, securing a thrilling 3-2 win despite going behind early in the second half. However, they are currently on a two-match winless streak in the league, a rarity for Slot, given his impressive start. A red card for Andy Robertson in their 2-2 draw at home to Fulham added to Liverpool’s frustrations, following a canceled Merseyside derby and a late equalizer at Newcastle United. These consecutive draws have allowed Chelsea to narrow the gap to just two points.

Team News

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale stated over the weekend that he is in contention to return, offering more stability in goal after Joe Lumley and Alex McCarthy struggled in his absence. Jack Stephens will serve the final game of his three-match suspension for his red card against Chelsea, while Jan Bednarek, who missed recent games due to a knee injury sustained on international duty with Poland, returned at the weekend. Despite the priority of Premier League survival, interim manager Rusk may field a strong lineup to boost morale.

Liverpool will be without Robertson due to his red card, but Alexis Mac Allister is back after serving a suspension in both the league and cup. Diogo Jota, who scored upon his return at the weekend, was expected to use this match to further build his fitness ahead of the busy schedule, but he is still dealing with discomfort and is not expected to start. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson could all be rested, with Caoimhin Kelleher likely to start in goal. Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley, and Kostas Tsimikas remain sidelined, limiting Slot’s defensive rotation options. As a result, Van Dijk will probably start alongside Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah in the backline.

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Aribo, Ugochukwu, Fernandes; Dibling, Onuachu, Armstrong

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Mac Allister, Endo, Jones; Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez

Prediction: Southampton 1-4 Liverpool

The hosts will be hoping for a bounce following Martin’s dismissal, but they could not have drawn a tougher opponent. Despite possible rotation from Slot, Liverpool are expected to comfortably secure a victory.

Goals are likely to feature heavily, as the league encounter last month saw five goals, bringing the total to 48 across the 14 meetings at St Mary’s since Southampton’s promotion in 2012.