LONDON: Holders Liver­pool booked their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored twice to lead Newcastle United to a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Held to a surprise 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Prem­ier League last weekend, Liverpool got back on track with a 20th win from 24 games in all competitions under Arne Slot, who has lost just once since arriving from Feye­noord to replace Jurgen Klopp.

Slot, who watched the quarter-final from the stands while he served a touchline suspension, opted to rest Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk as the Premier League leaders made eight changes.

But Liverpool’s understudies were too strong as the 10-time League Cup winners reached the last four for a record 20th time.

Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans earlier in the game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, pouncing 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 past McCarthy.

It was only Nunez’s fourth goal in all competitions in a difficult season for the Urug­uay striker, who had gone six games without scoring.

Elliott doubled the Reds’ lead eight minutes later when he unleashed a low, hard shot from Cody Gakpo’s pass for his first goal this season.

Cameron Archer reduced the deficit in the 59th minute with a superb curling strike from just inside the area.

Southampton were furious when a late Jarell Quansah chall­enge on Mateus Fernan­des didn’t result in a penalty.

“We came into this game knowing the circumstances that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out fighting and we were ready for it,” Elliott told Sky Sports.

The game was a tale of teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the summit and Southampton — who sacked manager Russell Martin following Sunday’s 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur — in last place with just one win.

“We have to defend the trophy because the club won it last season, so we want to compete in every league and this is one of them, so we’re happy that we reached the semi-final,” said Slot.

At the Emirates Stadium, Brazilian striker Jesus finally found the back of the net on home turf for the first time in 2024.

Jesus’ only previous goal in 20 appearances in all competitions this season had come against second-tier Preston in the League Cup.

The 27-year-old’s first goals in nine games were well-timed after Arsenal were booed off following Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Everton in the Premier League.

“Sometimes I have this problem with a lack of goals,” Jesus said. “I’m working a lot in training, finishing more, putting myself in a good position. I think my hard work has paid off.”

The Gunners, who last won the League Cup in 1993, are six points behind Liverpool and Mikel Arteta made eight changes as he prioritised Arsenal’s rematch with Palace in the top flight on Saturday.

Arteta’s gamble paid off after an early shock when Jean-Philippe Mateta punished weak defending from Jakub Kiwior to put Palace ahead in the fourth minute.

Arsenal thoroughly dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Ode­gaard sent a beautiful through ball into the box and the Brazilian chipped the ball over Dean Henderson.

Jesus netted his second in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He completed his hat-trick eight minutes later when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace’s back line before firing past Henderson.

“So pleased for [Jesus]. It’s been a long period for him without goals,” Arteta told reporters. “To score the three types of goals and the many actions that he was involved in, it’s a great thing for the team that we can rely on a player with such quality.”

Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he leapt high to head home past David Raya.

At St James’ Park, Magpies boss Eddie Howe named a full-strength side and was rewarded with a comprehensive victory that moved his club a step closer to emulating their run to the 2023 final.

Newcastle, who have not won a major trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, took the lead through Tonali in the ninth minute when Nathan Collins’ attempted clearance fell at his feet and he unleashed a rocket from 20 yards out — his first goal since his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon’s cross from near the penalty spot just before the break for his second goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent a pass across the goal for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.

“It was great to see Sandro score the two that he did,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told the BBC. “Just a really good feeling about the group at the moment. We are building in confidence all the time.”

Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time but the game was well out of reach by then.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024