Southampton through to EFL Cup final

Substitute Shane Long netted an injury-time winner, as Southampton beat Liverpool 1-0 in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield to secure a 2-0 aggregate win.

The Saints will face the winners of the other semi-final between Manchester United and Hull City at Wembley on 26 February, in their first major final since the 2003 FA Cup final in Cardiff.

Oriol Romeu was named man-of-the-match for his superb shielding job in front of the back four, but centre-halves Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida were equally as resolute, as Southampton become the first side since Tottenham in 1982 to reach the final without conceding a goal.

Despite long periods of Liverpool possession, Southampton looked the sharper side in the first half, with Nathan Redmond, the scorer of the only goal at St Mary's in the first leg two weeks ago, a particularly potent presence.

And Claude Puel's team should really have extended their aggregate lead 11 minutes before the break.

Former Norwich winger Redmond skipped past a leaden-footed Joel Matip to set up Dusan Tadic, but the Serbian saw his shot brilliantly blocked by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.

The Saints, with Ireland international Long leading the line in the second half following an ankle injury to Jay Rodriguez, were forced back even deeper in the second half as Liverpool attacked the Kop end.

And Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster almost gifted Liverpool an equaliser on 54 minutes when he spilled a long-range Emre Can effort, only to recover to claw the loose ball away from goal.

Liverpool's best chance of their own making came on 64 minutes, but Daniel Sturridge got his feet in a mess and sliced Jordan Henderson's inch-perfect cross wide of goal.

And, as Jurgen Klopp's side chased an equaliser in the dying moments, Long netted a brilliant winner on the break following a superb Josh Sims run and pass.

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