Nobody gave Southampton a prayer - and not only because they had conceded five in defeat in each of their previous two home matches. It has been a season of remorseless struggle for them.
When Liverpool surged into a two-goal lead before the interval, they were strolling and this Carabao Cup quarter-final looked over. Darwin Núñez scored the first and there was then a first goal of an injury-hit season for Harvey Elliott. Slot watched from up in the press box as he served a touchline suspension for three yellow cards. He was comfortable.
And then he was not because Southampton were vibrant and dangerous in the second half. Jordan Archer got them back into it and he would miss a big chance for the equaliser. Southampton had other flickers, not least in stoppage time when Mateus Fernandes felt he was dragged down for a penalty by Jarell Quansah. The referee, Simon Hooper, was unmoved. Liverpool had done enough.
Talk about a baptism of fire for Rusk. Rusk's experience as a manager had gone no further than a spell at the helm of Stockport in the National League in 2021. He is best known for his work as a youth level coach; he was in charge of the England Under-19s from August 2022 until the end of 2023.
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Denne historien er fra December 19, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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