Nunez and Elliott on target as Liverpool win 2-1
Jesus bags treble as Arsenal beat Palace 3-2
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Tonali scores twice as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1
(Updates with quotes, details)
LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -
Holders Liverpool reserved their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 success over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to objectives 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 to a 3-1 win over Brentford.
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.
Elliott doubled the Reds' lead 8 minutes later on when he unleashed a low, difficult shot from Cody Gakpo's pass. Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from simply inside package.
"We entered into this game understanding the circumstances that Southampton were going through and understood they were going to come out fighting and we were ready for it," Elliott told Sky sports betting.
The game was a tale of groups at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the top and Southampton-- who sacked supervisor Russell Martin following Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last place with simply one win.
"We have to protect the prize because the club won it last season, so we want to compete in every league and this is among them, so we enjoy that we reached the semi-final," stated Reds manager Arne Slot, who enjoyed the video game from the press box while serving a touchline restriction.
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Palace had Arsenal drawing in the 4th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged aside Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior to latch onto a long ball and side-foot home.
But Arsenal completely controlled the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent out a stunning through ball into the box and the Brazilian chipped the ball over Dean Henderson.
'SUCH QUALITY'
Jesus, who had actually scored simply when this season before Wednesday, netted his second in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He finished his hat-trick 8 minutes later when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before firing previous Henderson.
"So delighted for (Jesus). It's been an extended period for him without objectives," Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta informed press reporters. "To score the three types of objectives and the lots of actions that he was associated with, it's a fantastic thing for the group that we can depend on a gamer with such quality."
Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he jumped 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 lawns out-- his first objective considering that his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching wagering guidelines.
Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the penalty area prior to the break for his second goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent a pass throughout the objective for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.
"It was great to see Sandro score the two that he did," Newcastle employer Eddie Howe told the BBC. "Just an actually good feeling about the group at the minute. We are integrating in confidence all the time."
Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time however the game was well out of reach already.
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The last semi-final place is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur United.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)
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Soccer Liverpool through To League Cup Semis
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