da bet7k： Claude Puel’s Southampton are in the final of a major tournament after overcoming Liverpool 2-0 on aggregate in their EFL Cup semi-final clash. Although not a seismic upset, the Saints were not favourites to progress to Wembley, but a first leg goal from Nathan Redmond gave them an advantage to take to Anfield, which they defended well before stealing a late effort through Shane Long on the counter-attack as Jurgen Klopp’s side piled forward.
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Much of the talk before kick-off centred around a defensive crisis waiting to happen for the travelling team, with Jose Fonte’s much-expected exit and Virgil van Dijk’s injury blow leaving Puel with a headache at the back against the Premier league’s most potent attack. 22-year-old Jack Stephens stepped in alongside experienced Japanese centre-back Maya Yoshida and was widely tipped to be the man Liverpool could get at, but the emerging defender put in a truly impressive showing as his side kept a much-deserved clean sheet.
In was a backs-to-the-wall performance from the Saints, and Stephens’ 20 clearances and 43 touches of the ball show how involved he was in terms of reducing the Reds to long range shots and just a handful of clear opportunities. On top of those headline stats, he won two aerial duels, made two interceptions and completed two tackles, while putting in one block.
Some Southampton fans may have been calling for late addition to ease concerns at the back, but Stephens might be the next big thing on the south coast.
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