Alexander Isak opened his Liverpool account in dramatic fashion, scoring in a 2-1 victory over Southampton in the League Cup third round on Tuesday.
Signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million on transfer deadline day, the Swedish forward finally found the net in his third outing for the Reds. His goal came in the 43rd minute, capitalising on a poor clearance from Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after Federico Chiesa pounced to set him up. The strike doubled as a belated gift for Isak, who turned 26 on Sunday.
Isak had previously failed to score in his debut against Atletico Madrid and in a cameo against Everton. Taken off at half-time as he regains match sharpness following a disrupted pre-season, he nevertheless gave Anfield a glimpse of why Liverpool invested so heavily in him.
Southampton hit back in the 76th minute through Shea Charles after a defensive lapse from Wataru Endo. But substitute Hugo Ekitike ensured Liverpool avoided penalties with an 85th-minute finish from another Chiesa assist. Ekitike’s wild celebration earned him a second yellow card, leaving the hosts to finish with 10 men.
Despite the drama, Arne Slot’s men maintained their flawless start to the season with seven wins in all competitions, including five in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
Chelsea Survive Lincoln Scare
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea survived an early wobble to beat League One side Lincoln 2-1. A defensive blunder gifted the visitors a 42nd-minute opener through Rob Street. But Enzo Maresca’s heavily rotated side responded with goals from Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte shortly after the restart to avoid embarrassment.
Elsewhere, Burnley suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff after wholesale changes backfired on manager Scott Parker. Wolves offered fans relief with a 2-0 win over Everton, Brighton hammered Barnsley 6-0 with Diego Gomez scoring four, and Emile Smith Rowe’s strike sent Fulham past Cambridge.
What you should know
Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak is off the mark, scoring his first goal for the club in a tense League Cup tie.
His arrival, alongside match-winner Hugo Ekitike, signals Arne Slot’s intent to rotate effectively while keeping the Reds competitive on all fronts. Chelsea also escaped a historic upset, while Burnley’s gamble with rotation proved costly.
