The third round of the 2025/26 English League Cup ushered in a focus match. Liverpool, playing at home, defeated Southampton 2-1 with goals from Isak and Ekitik.

At the start of the game, Liverpool seized the ball and launched an attack. Isaac received a pass from his teammate in the penalty area and shot, but the ball was blocked by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. Then, Southampton striker Armstrong created an opportunity, and Schienza took the ball and shot, but it was blocked.

In the 5th minute, Southampton continued to attack. Ryan Manning passed the ball back from the penalty area. Armstrong immediately stepped forward to shoot, but was blocked by Liverpool goalkeeper Mamadashvili. In the 24th minute, Isaac dribbled the ball into the penalty area and passed it back. Chiesa took the ball and shot, but it was blocked by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

In the 33rd minute, Ryan Manning took a corner kick, and Kwasi headed the ball but it was blocked. In the 42nd minute, Cameron Archer made a diagonal pass, and Armstrong took the ball and entered the penalty area and shot, but the ball hit the post. Then Skienza headed the ball but it went wide.

In the 43rd minute, Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy made a mistake when kicking off. Chiesa immediately passed the ball back after getting the ball, and Isaac pushed the ball into the goal, helping Liverpool to open the scoring with a 1-0 lead.

At the start of the second half, Liverpool replaced Isaac with Ekiti. In the 50th minute, Endo created an attacking opportunity, and Tre Nyoni's shot was blocked by the opponent. In the 53rd minute, Ekiti was shown a yellow card by the referee for deliberately hitting the ball away in frustration.

In the 61st minute, Liverpool made a pass and Chiesa scored from close range, but the goal was ruled out due to offside. In the 65th minute, Ekitik received the ball near the top of the penalty area and broke through the defense to shoot from long range, but the ball went wide of the goal.

In the 76th minute, Southampton took a corner kick. Endo made a mistake in clearing the ball, and Shay Charles volleyed in the net, helping Southampton equalize the score at 1-1. In the 78th minute, Chiesa passed the ball from the right, and Ekitik headed the ball wide. In the 81st minute, Liverpool's new signing Giovanni Leoni was injured and was subsequently replaced by Kyrgez Miloš.

In the 85th minute, Robertson's long pass was met by Chiesa, who then crossed from the penalty area. Ekitik seized the opportunity and pushed the ball into the empty net, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead. Ekitik was subsequently sent off for accumulating two yellow cards for his shirt-raising celebration. In second-half stoppage time, Chiesa received the ball and fired a powerful shot from the penalty area, but it was saved by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

In the end, Liverpool eliminated Southampton 2-1 at home.