Suspension, Strategy, and Success: Schreuder's Winning Night Off the Sideline

Liverpool advanced to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.

Goals from Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott secured the lead, while Cameron Archer's second-half goal for Southampton wasn't enough to change the outcome.

Head coach Alfred Schreuder, serving a suspension and watching from the stands, shared his thoughts post-match.

Regarding fielding young players, Schreuder remarked, 'This club is known for this approach. These players train with us daily, and it's gratifying to see them demonstrate their capability at this level.'

Assessing the team's performance, he noted, 'The first half was really good; we went 2-0 up. Conceding a goal wasn't entirely unexpected; we became a bit complacent during the game.'

On progressing to the semi-finals, Schreuder emphasized, 'We have to defend this cup. We aim to compete in every tournament, and this is one of them.'

Praising his coaching staff's efforts in his absence, he stated, 'I have a very good coaching staff. These three (staff members), even when I wasn't present, managed the game well.'

Reflecting on his vantage point among journalists, Schreuder humorously added, 'My spot was good, warmer than the touchline! Watching the victory from a warm seat was enjoyable.'

Addressing a potential red card incident involving Jarell Quansah, he commented, 'I wasn't worried, but two players collided; you always wonder what might happen. In reality, it could have been a different decision, but having reviewed it, I don't think it was a foul.'