Southampton’s Sadio Mane, left, celebrates scoring against Liverpool during the quarterfinal English League Cup soccer match at St Mary’s, Southampton, England, Wednesday Dec. 2, 2015. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Liverpoolrecovered from conceding inside the first minute to thrash Southampton 6-1 away in the League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday as Juergen Klopp’s impressive start as manager continued.
Divock Origi scored a hat trick – his first goals for Liverpool – after fellow striker Daniel Sturridgemarked his latest return from injury with goals in the 25th and 29th minutes to spark the comeback.
Jordon Ibe also netted as the Reds reached a record 16th League Cup semifinal, where they will play Stoke over two legs in January. Everton will play Manchester City in the other last-four match.
Sadio Mane put Southampton in front at St. Mary’s Stadium before the hosts’ defense was shredded.
Liverpool has won seven of its last eight games in all competitions under Klopp, who took charge in October, and looks unrecognizable from the one that struggled under predecessor Brendan Rodgers early this season.
Away from home, the Reds are looking unstoppable and have now scored 13 goals in total in wins at Chelsea, Man City and Southampton under Klopp, whose high-pressing, high-energy game is paying off.
”It is not a miracle what he has done,” said Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, who used to captain Southampton. ”He’s come in and put his ethos and way of working into the squad.”
Sturridge’s brace proved crucial in turning the game, and was another reminder of his talents that have been so sparingly seen this season. This was only his fifth game.
”Now I know what everyone is talking about him, I have seen it first hand,” Klopp said of Sturridge, who was told to toughen up by his manager last week after the striker’s spate of injuries.
Origi, who joined from Lille on a permanent basis last summer, was also handed a rare start and the Belgium international responded by scoring the third goal before halftime and adding more in the 68th and 86th.
