Nunez and Elliott on target as Liverpool win 2-1
Jesus bags treble as Arsenal beat Palace 3-2
*
Tonali scores twice as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1
(Updates with quotes, information)
bit.ly
LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -
Holders Liverpool booked their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 triumph over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to objectives from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.
bit.ly
Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored two times to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.
Nunez, who had actually been goaded by Saints fans previously in the video game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, attacking after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by keeper Alex McCarthy. Nunez put his finger to his lips in a gesture to the crowd after finishing previous McCarthy.
Elliott doubled the Reds' lead 8 minutes later when he released a low, tough shot from Cody Gakpo's pass. Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from just inside package.
"We came into this video game understanding the situations that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out battling and we were all set for it," Elliott told Sky sports betting.
The video game was a tale of groups at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the summit and Southampton-- who sacked supervisor Russell Martin following Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last location with just one win.
"We need to safeguard the prize due to the fact that the club won it last season, so we want to contend in every league and this is one of them, so we're pleased that we reached the semi-final," said Reds manager Arne Slot, who watched the video game from journalism box while serving a touchline restriction.
Palace had Arsenal reeling in the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed aside Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior to acquire a long ball and side-foot home.
But Arsenal thoroughly dominated the 2nd half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent a gorgeous through ball into the box and the Brazilian cracked the ball over Dean Henderson.
'SUCH QUALITY'
Jesus, who had actually scored just when this season before Wednesday, netted his 2nd in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He finished his hat-trick 8 minutes later on when he ran onto a ball from behind Palace's back line before firing previous Henderson.
"So delighted for (Jesus). It's been a long duration for him without objectives," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told press reporters. "To score the 3 kinds of objectives and the many actions that he was included in, it's a terrific thing for the group that we can rely on a gamer with such quality."
bet9ja.com
Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he leapt high to head home past David Raya.
At St James' Park, Tonali scored in the ninth minute when Nathan Collins' attempted clearance fell at his feet and he unleashed a rocket from 20 backyards out-- his very first goal given that his return in late-August from a 10-month restriction for breaching wagering rules.
Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the charge spot just before the break for his second goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent out a pass across the goal for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.
bit.ly
"It was fantastic to see Sandro score the 2 that he did," Newcastle employer Eddie Howe told the BBC. "Just an actually great sensation about the group at the moment. We are integrating in self-confidence all the time."
Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time but the game was well out of reach by then.
The last semi-final location is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)
bit.ly
1
Soccer Liverpool through To League Cup Semis
hymandossett4 edited this page 3 months ago