SAINTS STUCK IN LIVING ELL

But Slot's men made to work for it

- ALAN SMITH

DARWIN NUNEZ discovered his finishing touch to set Liverpool on their way to the last four and inflict more misery on Southampton.

The Uruguayan arrived on the South Coast with a single goal from his previous 11 appearances, but his calm finish, swiftly followed by a first of the season for Harvey Elliott, looked to have teed up a straightforward evening for Arne Slot's Premier League leaders.

But the division's bottom side put up a creditable second-half response and Cameron Archer halved the deficit with an impressive finish before several good chances to level went amiss.

Interim Saints boss Simon Rusk's future is still unclear with the club pursuing a number of options to replace Russell Martin, who was sacked after Sunday's 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham.