Liverpool 2-1 Southampton Player Ratings: Federico Chiesa 9/10 Rated as Late Drama at Anfield's Secures 2-1 Victory for the Reds

This Carabao Cup fixture had everything. Liverpool and Southampton delivered a match filled with intense moments and late-game heroics. It was a classic cup clash that kept us on the edge of our seats until the very end.

Liverpool seemed to have things under control when Alexander Isak slotted home a tidy finish just before the halftime whistle. The Reds looked comfortable, but credit to Southampton, they never gave up. They came out in the second half with real intent and purpose.

The Saints' persistence paid off when substitute Shea Charles bundled the ball in from a corner to level the score. At that point, the momentum felt like it was shifting. But then, in a moment of pure drama, another substitute, Hugo Ekitike, scored what would be the winner for Liverpool, only to be bizarrely sent off for his celebration. The match ended 2-1, a memorable win for the home side. Here are the Liverpool vs Southampton player ratings.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Southampton

Here are the Liverpool player ratings vs Southampton.

Goalkeeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili - 7.0: A pretty solid performance from the keeper. He made a couple of important saves, especially one from Scienza in the first half. From our view, he couldn't have done much about the goal he conceded from the corner scramble. He looked confident, claiming high balls and his presence was reassuring. It wasn't a flashy display but he did his job effectively.

Defenders

Joe Gomez - 6.5: Gomez was incredibly busy throughout the match, touching the ball 125 times. He made a crucial number of clearances, six to be exact. However, what stood out to us was his tendency to lose possession, which happened 16 times. His error that led to a shot was a nervy moment. It was an all-action, yet slightly flawed performance.

Giovanni Leoni - 7.0: This was a really impressive showing before his unfortunate injury forced him off. He was almost perfect with his passing, boasting a 97% accuracy. We noticed his excellent reading of the game with three interceptions and six clearances. It felt like a big blow for Liverpool when he had to be substituted.

Andrew Robertson - 7.0: The captain put in a typical, high-energy shift. He was a constant outlet on the left, pushing forward to join the attack and delivering some decent crosses. Defensively, he was sound for the most part. He led by example with his work rate and never stopped running for the team.

Jeremie Frimpong - 6.0: A somewhat quiet and frustrating night for Frimpong. He struggled to impose himself on the game in an attacking sense, losing the ball 15 times which stalled momentum. He worked hard defensively but didn't look entirely at ease. We expected a bit more from him going forward.

Midfielders

Wataru Endo - 8.0: A monstrous performance in the middle of the park. From our perspective, he was an absolute machine, winning an incredible 12 duels and making nine ball recoveries. He was everywhere, breaking up Southampton's attacks and starting Liverpool's. Drawing six fouls shows just how disruptive and effective he was. A close contender for man of the match.

Curtis Jones - 6.5: He was very neat and tidy in possession, keeping the ball moving well. His 95% pass accuracy reflects his composure on the ball. However, he didn't offer much of a cutting edge in the final third before being subbed off. A steady, if unspectacular, contribution.

Federico Chiesa - 9.0: Simply outstanding and our highest-rated player of the match. He was the creative genius for Liverpool, providing two crucial assists and creating four big chances. Every time he got the ball, he looked like he could make something happen. What a player. His vision and execution were on a different level tonight.

Trey Nyoni - 6.0: A difficult game for the young midfielder. Unfortunately, his performance will be remembered for the costly error that led to Southampton's goal. It's a tough lesson to learn at this level. Aside from that mistake, he was composed on the ball but it's a moment that defines his rating.

Forwards

Alexander Isak - 7.5: He was sharp and clinical, taking his goal exceptionally well to give Liverpool the lead. He looked like a constant threat with his movement and link-up play. We were personally surprised to see him substituted at halftime as he was causing problems for the opposition defence.

Rio Ngumoha - 6.5: Showed some really promising flashes during his time on the pitch. He was positive in his play, attempting several dribbles and looking to take players on. He created one key pass. It was a decent shift from the young attacker before he was replaced.

Substitutes

Hugo Ekitiké - 7.0: The definition of a chaotic cameo. He came on, scored the decisive winning goal with a cool finish, and then got himself a second yellow for his celebration. It was a moment of madness. His goal won the game, but the red card was just plain silly and put his team under pressure.

Conor Bradley - 6.5: Came on and slotted in seamlessly, providing fresh energy on the right side. He did his defensive duties well. A solid and reliable substitution.

Jayden Danns - 6.0: He was brought on late in the game and didn't have a lot of time to make a significant impact on the proceedings.

Milos Kerkez - 6.0: Replaced the injured Leoni and helped see out the win. He didn't have much to do but looked steady.

Manager

A. Slot - 7.5: His decisions ultimately won the match. The substitution to bring on Hugo Ekitiké was a masterstroke, even if the player's subsequent actions were baffling. He navigated a tricky Carabao Cup tie and got the result. A win is a win, and he'll be happy to be in the next round.

Southampton Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Here are the Southampton player ratings vs Liverpool.

Goalkeeper

Alex McCarthy - 5.5: It was a difficult evening for the Southampton keeper. The error leading to a goal was a pivotal moment in the match and something you just can't do at this level. He made a couple of saves, but that costly mistake really brings his rating down. His distribution also looked a bit rushed at times.

Defenders

Ryan Manning - 7.0: We thought Manning was excellent. He was a constant threat down the left flank, creating three chances and putting in ten crosses. He was also solid defensively, winning all five of his duels. He can hold his head high despite the result.

Ronnie Edwards - 6.0: A fairly standard performance from Edwards. He was composed while in possession and didn't make any glaring errors. He did his job without much fuss but wasn't able to truly dominate the opposing forwards.

Nathan Wood - 6.0: A bit of a mixed performance from our perspective. Wood was strong in the air, winning a couple of important headers. However, he was dribbled past on one occasion and looked a little stretched by Liverpool's quick attacks. An okay outing.

Joshua Quarshie - 7.5: Southampton's standout defender. He was a rock at the back, making seven clearances and winning most of his duels. To top it off, he provided the assist for his team's equalizing goal. A very commanding and impressive performance from the defender.

Elias Jelert - 6.0: He put in a hard-working shift on the right side. He tried to get forward and support the attack, creating one chance. However, his final product was sometimes lacking and he was caught offside once. An average performance overall.

Midfielders

Flynn Downes - 6.5: A real battler in midfield. His five interceptions show his brilliant ability to read the game and break up play. What let him down was being dribbled past three times. He never stopped working for his team.

Adam Armstrong - 6.0: A frustrating night for the captain. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork and will be disappointed to have missed a big chance. His effort was there, but the final touch or decision just wasn't right for him in this match.

Leo Scienza - 6.5: He looked very bright and dangerous in the first half, forcing a good save from the goalkeeper. He caused problems with his movement. However, he also missed a big chance and his influence waned before he was substituted.

Caspar Jander - 6.5: He was doing a very effective job in midfield before his game was cut short by injury. He was tidy on the ball and made some important tackles and interceptions. It was a real shame to see him go off.

Forwards

Cameron Archer - 5.5: He really struggled to make any sort of impact on the game. He lost the majority of his duels and was easily dispossessed. It was a tough night for him where he failed to provide a significant threat to the Liverpool defence.

Substitutes

Shea Charles - 7.5: Made a massive impact after coming on. He scored the equalizer with a poacher's finish and brought great energy to the team. He was unlucky to end up on the losing side after such an influential cameo.

Damion Downs - 6.0: Came on but struggled to get involved in the game in any meaningful way.

Jay Robinson - 6.0: Similar to Downs, he had limited time and opportunity to change the game's outcome.

Ross Stewart - N/A: Came on too late to receive a fair rating.

Tom Fellows - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to be rated.

Manager

W. Still - 7.0: He should be proud of his team's performance. He set them up to be competitive and resilient against a top side. His tactics were spot on for large parts of the game, and his substitution of Shea Charles paid off immediately. It was an unlucky result in the end.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Federico Chiesa