Jan 11, 2017 at 7.45pm UK at ​St Mary's Stadium
Southampton
1-0
Liverpool
Redmond (20')
Tadic (65'), Rodriguez (81')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Claude Puel hails "very good" Southampton performance

Claude Puel watches on during the Premier League game between Stoke City and Southampton on December 14, 2016
© SilverHub
Claude Puel insists that Southampton were worthy winners in their first-leg tie with Liverpool, but concedes it will be "very difficult" to restrict the Reds at Anfield.

Southampton manager Claude Puel has admitted that it is too soon to get carried away but feels his side are good value for their narrow lead over Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final.

The Saints will take a one-goal advantage to Anfield later this month, courtesy of Nathan Redmond's 20th-minute strike in the first leg on Wednesday evening - his first in 16 games.

Puel saw his side squander a number of good openings, while opponents Liverpool struggled to truly get going all night, yet the Frenchman knows that more is now required to get over the line on Merseyside in two weeks' time.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the match, he said: "We are deserving this result with all the many chances we had. It was important to win with the clean sheet and we can have a strong game at Liverpool. I think Liverpool had just the one chance all game. We were unlucky at the end because we know Liverpool away in the second leg will be very difficult.

"It was the same in the Premier League - a strong defence - but this game was interesting because we were strong in defence and were better to keep the ball and to have a very good counter attack. It was a very, very good game but it is just the first leg and we are just one goal up.

"This competition is exciting, now it is important to keep the good concentration for the Premier League. We lost three games so it is important to have the good reaction."

Southampton's league campaign resumes at Burnley on Saturday afternoon, before the visit of Leicester City eight days later.

Jurgen Klopp watches on sternly during the Premier League game between Sunderland and Liverpool on January 2, 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea21171345153052
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs21136243142945
3Liverpool21136249242545
4Arsenal21135348222644
5Manchester CityMan City21133541261542
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21117332201240
7Everton219663223933
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom218582828029
9Stoke CityStoke217682733-627
10Burnley2182112331-826
11Bournemouth2174103037-725
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2174102635-925
13Southampton216691926-724
14Watford2165102336-1323
15Leicester CityLeicester2156102434-1021
16Middlesbrough214891722-520
17Crystal Palace2144133040-1016
18Hull City2144132045-2516
19Sunderland2143142040-2015
20Swansea CitySwansea2143142349-2615
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