Matt Le Tissier hails 'incredible' Southampton after EFL Cup semi-final heroics at Liverpool
Thursday 26 January 2017 07:39, UK
Matt Le Tissier hailed Southampton's defensive display as his former side reached the EFL Cup final for the first time in 38 years.
Shane Long's stoppage-time strike sealed a 1-0 win at Anfield, and a 2-0 aggregate victory, but the result was built on the defensive solidity provided by centre-back pairing Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida.
So impressive was their display, the absence of injured captain Virgil van Dijk went unnoticed as Saints became the first club in the competition's history to reach the final without conceding a goal.
And, speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Le Tissier saluted his former club's gallant display. "It is incredible, it really is," he said.
"Liverpool have been in many, many finals over the years - Jamie Carragher mentioned it probably meant more to Southampton and you could see that in the players' efforts.
"They gave everything they had and there were some proper heroes out there defensively.
"We created a lot of chances over the two legs, and we missed a few, but when you go through the whole tournament without conceding a goal, you've got to do that with some good defenders in your side.
"We did it without arguably our player of the season so far in Virgil van Dijk. He's barely been mentioned tonight because of the fantastic job that Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida did in the centre-back positions."
Claude Puel's side have the chance to emulate Southampton's FA Cup winning side of 1976 when they take on either Manchester United or Hull City at Wembley on February 26.
Despite coming in domestic competition, Jamie Carragher likened the Saints' impressive display to a vintage European away win, where their organisational prowess suffocated a tame Liverpool attack.
"For a few years Southampton have been a tough nut to crack," he added. "Under Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman they were always very tough defensively.
"Yes, Liverpool missed a couple of chances but there was never that feeling that Southampton were under that much pressure. That was down to the job the midfielders did, the likes of Oriol Romeu.
"Young Stephens was never put under pressure because Liverpool couldn't get at him due to Southampton's organisation.
"It was a like a brilliant European away performance from Southampton, they soaked up pressure and hit them on the counter. Southampton looked far more dangerous than Liverpool did all night."
