The Saints succumbed. Not that it had started that way. Inside a minute – 39 seconds to be precise – he may have wished he had made seven. The header was held by Bogdan.
Advertisement
As with the first, it was the type of thrilling goal that Liverpool produced with such regularity during their march to the verge of the Premier League title two seasons ago, but which had not been seen since then, before the arrival of Klopp.
Klopp was also delighted with Origi, whose second goal, lashed high into the net, was the pick of the bunch.
There was further misery for a stunned Southampton as Moreno’s drive from a partially cleared corner received a faint touch from Origi as it fizzed past Stekelenburg.
It was a near-perfect night for the Merseysiders, but the performance of Sturridge was arguably the highlight.
It didn’t take too long for Sturridge to double his tally as he proved he’s not just a left-footed wonder by tucking away a lovely little volley just three minutes later.
But former Liverpool captain John Barnes believes Sturridge will eventually lose out if the England global chooses to stay in the treatment room to fix all his ailments.
He was not finished there. He said openly: ‘Don’t hold back, you’re a good player, go forward’.
Southampton were stung and tried to respond and claimed for a penalty when Tadic tried to lift the ball past Randall who seemed to lean into it with his arm.
Liverpool’s third arrived on the stroke of half time when Alberto Moreno hit a shot which took a deflection off Divock Origi and hit the back of the net.
The first legs will be played on January 5/6, while the second leg will be on January 26/27.
This time Emre Can was the architect, catching the home defence square from mid-way inside the Southampton half with an exquisite 40-yard pass using the outside of his right foot.
There were barely any Southampton fans left upon full-time.
For Origi, the match was more about showing his manager that he could add goals to his energetic displays, having demonstrated all the attributes of a top striker in the early season, except the most important quality of all.
His absence was not felt.
Ibe, who came on for Sturridge, drove in off the right wing and slipped the ball through to Origi who did the rest with a thumping finish.
Liverpool’s wasn’t finished scoring or doing it with style. Ibe’s fifth was just as impressive as he chested down a cross Moreno and fired low into the corner from just inside the box.
Advertisement
There was no easing up, however, as Origi lashed home from Ibe’s pass and headed in a left-wing cross from substitute Brad Smith, either side of a drilled effort from Ibe.
