The match saw manager Arne Slot field a much-changed side, which included a first Liverpool goal for Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker, who joined the club in the summer, broke the deadlock with a composed finish just before halftime.
Southampton, however, refused to back down. Substitute Shea Charles leveled the score in the 76th minute, setting the stage for a tense final period. The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Hugo Ekitike scored the winning goal, but his celebration was short-lived. In a moment of what manager Slot later described as "stupidity," Ekitike received a second yellow card for taking his shirt off and was sent off, forcing Liverpool to see out the rest of the game with 10 men.
Despite the late drama and Ekitike's dismissal, Liverpool held on to secure their place in the next round of the competition.