Record winner FC Liverpool has reached the round of 16 in the English league cup thanks to a late hit by the former Frankfurt Hugo Ekitiké (86.).
Without regular players like Florian Wirtz, the Reds defeated the second division club FC Southampton 2-1 (1-0). The Ekitiké, who had substituted after the break, looked yellow-red after his goal because he had taken off his jersey at the goal.
Alexander Isak, who was signed by Newcastle United for 144 million euros, had taken the lead with his first competitive goal for Liverpool (43.).
To compensate for the brave guests, where, among other things, the newcomers Leo Scienza (from 1. FC Heidenheim) and Caspar Jander (1. FC Nürnberg) stood in the starting eleven, Shea Charles (76.) met after a mistake by the ex-Stuttgart Waturo Endo. In the first half, Scienza had a good opportunity to take the tour, in return ISAK scored for the Reds.
As announced, coach Arne Slot did without most players of his first team like Wirtz or striker Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool has won the league cup ten times so far, most recently in 2024. The final in March the record champion lost 1-2 against Newcastle United.