Puel excited for Liverpool challenge

Claude Puel will be looking to exploit Liverpool when Southampton host Liverpool in the first-leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool have only suffered two defeats in all competitions this season but Southampton held them to a goalless draw when the two sides met in the Premier League at Anfield in November.

Puel was pleased with the organisation his team showed on that occasion and believes they can beat Liverpool if they build on that performance.

"We played Liverpool in the Premier League and it was a strong game for us with organisation. We played strong and were strong in defence," Puel explained.

"We played at a good level but it will be important for this game to have more of the ball and try and have control of the game.

"Their ability to control the ball along with good pressing, with technical players, is exciting. We want to exploit them.

"The players are ready for the game. It is an exciting challenge for us. The Premier League game was strong, there are many games in January, different possibilities.

"This game is important and I think my players are ready for the game."

Puel accepts the EFL Cup represents a good opportunity for Southampton to win a trophy this season and has urged his team to deliver a positive result for the fans.

"The semi-final is important. It is an excellent challenge and we want to try and make the best of the opportunities," he said.

"The competition is important. This competition is an opportunity for us to win something, we have more chance of winning this than the Premier League.

"We need some good work and we want to keep our good possibilities. The second (leg) away is difficult, it is always difficult.

"It is not possible now to think about the final. We want to go out there and compete our best.

"I think that it is good because all the squad can be involved in the competition and we want to get a strong result for our fans and us."

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