Southampton travelled to Anfield to take on Premier League leaders Liverpool in the third round of the Carabao Cup tonight. Despite being narrowly beaten, there were lots of positives for Saints boss Will Still to take from this one.
Saints' boss, Will Still continued the pattern of rotating his squad, giving full debuts to both Elias Jelert and Léo Scienza.
<1 min - The Saints are nearly behind within the first minute. Adam Armstrong is the victim of a ridiculously high Liverpool press which results in Alexander Isak being presented with a great chance from about 15 yards out. Alex McCarthy, recalled for another Carabao Cup match, spreads himself well to save with his body and the ball ricochets up and over the bar.
10 mins - That seems to spark the Saints into life and after forcing a couple of corners, Adam Armstrong stings the palms of Giorgi Mamardashvili with a fierce effort from the left apex of the penalty area.
23 mins - Federico Chiesa finds a little space just inside the box to get a low shot away. McCarthy gets down smartly to save to his left.
33 mins - Saints nearly go ahead when Cameron Archer just fails to get a touch on a near post cross. Joe Gomez diverts the ball wide of the post to safety but he didn't know too much about it.
37 mins - Isak shows a flash of what he's capable of, beating Ronnie Edwards out on the left flank and sending in a dangerous low cross which Saints deal with well.
41 mins - How did Saints not take the lead there?! Saints steal the ball and Archer slips Armstrong in on goal. Armstrong chips the ball delicately over the keeper and against the bar. The rebound bounces out and up to Léo Scienza who heads the ball past the far post when he should have scored.
42 mins - GOAL! - Liverpool go a goal up but it's a gift from Alex McCarthy. The Saints' keeper tries to pass the ball out from the back but his pass to Joshua Quarshie is too weak and it's intercepted by Chiesa. Alexander Isak smashes the ball past McCarthy at his near post to put the hosts a goal up.
Half-Time: Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
50 mins - Caspar Jander is replaced by Shea Charles. Jander looks to have picked up a knock on his left ankle. Damion Downs enters the fray in place of Archer who's had a decent game up to now.
54 mins - Elias Jelert gets forward on the right hand side and slides the ball forward to Armstrong who drills the ball across low and hard across the goal-line but too close to the keeper who blocks.
At the other end, Quarshie does really well against Hugo Ekitiké who attempts to dribble past the German under-21 international.
61 mins - Federico Chiesa finds the top right hand corner but the goal is chalked off for offside. Meanwhile, Scienza is replaced by Jay Robinson who is making his Carabao Cup debut.
75 mins - GOAL! Shea Charles scores his first for the Saints to draw them level. The reds fail to deal with a high cross to the back post. Quarshie nudges the ball forward for Charles who makes no mistake from point blank range.
77 mins - Ekitiké blatantly nudges Quarshie in the back before heading wide from just a few yards out at the back post. The referee hasn't seen the nudge and gives the visitors a goal kick.
85 mins - Goal! Hugo Ekitiké breaks Saints' hearts with a tap in from Chiesa's sideways pass. His celebration earns him a sending off though as he takes his shirt off and receives a second yellow for his stupidity.
88 mins - Will Still rolls the dice and brings on Tom Fellows and Ross Stewart but to no avail.
Full-Time: Liverpool 2-1 Southampton
Southampton Player Ratings - formation: 5-2-3
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Alex McCarthy (GK) - 5/10 Made two big saves in the first half, first from Isak and then from Federico Chiesa. But his weak intercepted pass cost his team a goal and that is unforgivable at this level.
Elias Jelert (RB) - 6/10 Dogged and determined, Jelert started the match brightly and used his pace to transition well in attack and defence.
Ronnie Edwards (LCB) - 6/10 An assured first half. Edwards looked the real deal carrying the ball out of defence. Withdrawn late on as Saints threw on some attacking players late on.
Nathan Wood (CB) - 7/10 Took one for the team on the half-hour when he threw himself infront of a well hit Chiesa drive. Looked composed against the most expensive player in British football history.
Joshua Quarshie (LCB) - 8/10 Made towering headed clearances throughout and stood firm when Ekitiké tried to dribble around him. Grabbed an assist for Shea Charles' equaliser.
Ryan Manning (LB) - 6/10 Certainly looked solid on the left in a five man defence. Manning didn't get forward as much as usual tonight but did the defensive side of things better than in recent matches.