Unbelievable, remarkable and ruthless Reds reach semi-finals

Having ruled at Stamford Bridge and triumphed in such style at the Etihad, Liverpool conquered St Mary's in the most remarkable of fashions to set up a two-legged semi-final tie with Stoke City in the Capital One Cup.

Somehow – in the space of two glorious months – Klopp has transformed the Reds into the best travellers since Captain Cook was setting sail around the globe.

Liverpool didn't just beat Southampton, they humiliated them in their own backyard. You have to go back 20 years for the last time the Saints shipped six on home turf.

Klopp gambled by making half-a-dozen changes but his chips came in on the South Coast as those on the fringes of his Anfield revolution joined the party.

Divock Origi became the latest to benefit from a dose of the German coach's magic dust as the young striker ignited his Liverpool career.

The 20-year-old had struggled to live up to the hype following his £10million move from Lille. The pressure and expectation appeared to weigh heavily on his shoulders.

He had played just four minutes of senior football over the previous fiv weeks but when handed the opportunity to shine he grabbed it with both hands.

Famine turned to feast for Origi as he plundered the first League Cup hat-trick by a Liverpool player since Fernando Torres against Reading in 2007.

A more established hitman had got the Reds going after a disastrous start which had seen Sadio Mane nod Ronald Koeman's full-strength side in front.

Daniel Sturridge's future has been the subject of much debate following his latest prolonged spell on the treatment table.

Minor knee and foot problems had deprived Klopp of his services for the first nine games of his tenure.

Yet for anyone questioning whether Sturridge is worth all the hassle, here the answer was emphatic.

When fit and firing, there isn't a more gifted or natural finisher in England. His clinical double midway through the first half made it four goals in four starts so far this season.

Sturridge was a surprise starter but the ploy worked a treat as he effectively won the tie during a productive hour-long shift before being replaced by Jordon Ibe, who added the fifth during a ruthless second-half demolition.

The outcome was all the more astonishing considering that for the opening quarter of the contest Liverpool were second best.

They were caught cold inside 41 seconds. Emre Can made a pitiful attempt to cut out Ryan Bertrand's cross and Mane stole ahead of Alberto Moreno to nod home at the far post.

Liverpool were sloppy across the board. Saints could have added to their account but Victor Wanyama headed straight at Adam Bodgan before Steven Davis fired over.

Yet the powers of recovery Klopp has installed, which saw the Reds come from behind to beat Chelsea and Bordeaux, came to the fore once again.

There was a time not long ago when if Liverpool went behind, they wilted. Those days are gone. Now there is a real backbone.

It was Sturridge who provided the inspiration as he transformed the contest with two goals in the space of four minutes.

His first was created by the tireless Joe Allen, who looked up and delivered a sweeping pass from halfway into the striker's path.

Sturridge's initial touch took him wide but he accelerated past Steven Caulker and slammed low past Maarten Stekelenburg.

It was a classy finish as the trademark wriggly arms dance got its first outing since late September.

Sturridge swiftly doubled his tally. Once again the assist was of the highest quality.

Can had been more Ford Cortina than Rolls Royce up to that point but all was forgiven as with the outside of his right boot he picked out Sturridge's intelligent run. The outcome was inevitable as Sturridge coolly slotted home.

Suddenly, Liverpool were energised and Saints looked shell-shocked.

Belief surged through the visitors' veins as Klopp urged them on from the touchline. They added a killer third just before the break.

Adam Lallana's corner dropped to Moreno, whose sweetly struck 20-yarder was diverted past Stekelenburg by Origi as he broke his duck on his 11th appearance.

In the second half the Reds' vice-like grip remained. Dejan Lovren, who was booed mercilessly on his return to St Mary's, delivered another rock-solid display.

The Croatian centre-back, who is finally showing signs of living up to his price tag, was dominant in the air and made one crucial block to thwart Mane.

Academy graduate Connor Randall, who had some big boots to fill after Klopp opted to rest Nathaniel Clyne, recovered from a tricky start to deliver another hugely promising performance at right-back.

The 20-year-old kept his composure expertly after an early booking and could hold his head high.

Liverpool defended expertly and then countered with menace. The show of force was replicated off the pitch with even the abusive chants aimed at Lallana drowned out by the travelling Kop.

Sturridge departed to a standing ovation but with Ibe replacing him there was no let-up. The only sour note was the sight of Can picking up a fifth yellow card which will rule him out of Sunday's trip to Newcastle.

If Origi's first goal of the night was fortunate, his second oozed class.

Latching on to Ibe's pass, the Belgian's thunderous first-time drive gave Stekelenburg no chance as it cannoned in off the underside of the bar.

Saints were broken but there was no mercy. Moreno's cross picked out Ibe, who chested down and rifled into the bottom corner.

Four minutes from time the rout was complete. Brad Smith's only previous senior outing had been at Chelsea in December 2013 but he showcased his potential after coming off the bench to replace Moreno late on.

Smith got away down the left and delivered an inviting cross which Origi gleefully nodded home from close range.

Wembley is in sight for Klopp's resurgent Reds.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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