Holders Liverpool reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the third time in four seasons with a 2-1 win against managerless Southampton.
Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott did the job for Arne Slott's Reds, who are through to the last four, where they will face Arsenal, Newcastle or Thursday night's winners of Tottenham and Manchester United, which is being broadcast live. Sky Sports.
The semi-final draw will take place at 10.30pm, following the conclusion of that game in North London.
saints – who sacked Russell Martin shortly after Sunday's 5-0 defeat by Tottenham – led by interim head coach Simon Rusk, who used a particularly defensive approach at St Mary's; a 5-4-1 formation out of possession kept the Reds at bay for more than 20 minutes.
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Darwin Nunez fired Liverpool into their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton after Trent Alexander-Arnold's breakthrough
Then Liverpool found a way with the first shot on goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball through the middle, which hit the outstretched leg of Jan Bednarek and allowed Darwin Nunez to go one-on-one and beat Alex McCarthy.
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Harvey Elliott added Liverpool's second goal against Southampton without a manager
Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 as Liverpool carved open the hosts' defense with ease, Cody Gakpo teeing up Elliott for a simple finish.
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Cameron Archer pulled a goal back for Southampton with a brilliant strike
Just before the hour, out of nowhere, Saints gave themselves a lifeline when Cameron Archer headed past Caoimhin Kelleher – and they almost equalized seconds later when Kelleher's reflex save kept out Archer's shot, before Jarell Quansah blocked Mateus Fernandes' follow-up.
That roused the subdued home crowd, as did the introduction of Paul Onuachu, who proved a handful up front with his towering presence.
Rusk also brought on Adam Lallana, Ben Brereton Diaz and Kamaldeen Suleman, no doubt hoping an all-out attack in the closing stages would produce a goal that forced penalties, but that did not happen as the Carabao Cup holders edged closer to another Wembley final.