ARNE SLOT will have enjoyed the shelter of the Southampton press box, but he will not have been comfortable.
The Liverpool manager, who was in the stands due to suspension, watched as his much-changed side had to hold on to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Southampton looked set to send the holders through to the last four after a lukewarm first half.
It wouldn't have been much better than the performance against Tottenham on Sunday, which saw Russell Martin sacked.
Liverpool took advantage, with Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott giving them a comfortable lead.
But changes at half-time and a Saints step forward made for a thrilling second half – fueled by Cameron Archer's strike.
Simon Rusk, the Under-21s coach who only arrived in the summer, was given the 'privilege' to step in on an interim basis following Martin's dismissal.
It's not an attractive job for many coaches, but fans will at least take comfort in the fact that Rusk finally showed them some fight.
The former Brighton, Nottingham Forest and England youth coach named a strong squad as there is little need to save players for their doomed Premier League campaign.
Slot had left seven first-team regulars, including Mohammed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, on Merseyside.
In the absence of Van Dijk and the injured Ibrahima Konate, midfielder Wataru Endo started at centre-back, while teenager Trey Nyoni was given a full debut.
If Martin had been watching from home, he wouldn't have liked the fact that the first action without him in the dugout was a forward ball from kick-off.
While that drew ironic cheers, there was an early sign that Southampton's misery wasn't all Martin's fault, as more mistakes – and bad weather – combined to give Liverpool the chance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain for the evening, turned away from Matheus Fernandes deep in his own half and appeared to put a left-footed ball through for Nunez.
Jan Bednarek swung a leg at the pass and sent the ball looping towards his own goal, creating acres of space for the Liverpool striker.
Alex McCarthy dropped instead of coming out to attack Nunez and slipped on the greasy surface, allowing the Uruguayan to finish with ease before turning his ear to the home fans – who shouted him a “s* **Andy Carroll”.
The goal saw Southampton fall away, trying not to crumble as they did against Spurs, and put Liverpool in control.
But this Southampton defense is one of the most willing in Europe and despite having one bench of five and another of four in front, it still left gaps.
Cody Gakpo drove one in before trading passes with Endo and feeding Elliott.
The tenacious midfielder controlled well and saw his shot take a slight deflection off Ryan Manning before settling into the back of the net.
Their progress was so easy in the first half that Slot decided to engage Alexander-Arnold, who was dictating, at the break.
Another rested as Federico Chiesa was sent off for a few precious minutes, while Joe Gomez was also given the second half off.
But Southampton hit back, in comical and clinical fashion.
The lively Fernandes wanted to punch a ball forward but shot it straight into Endo's face.
With Japan's midfield staring at the ground, the ball fell to Archer, who slotted home Jarrell Quansah and Tyler Morton before firing against the far post.
St. Mary's was suddenly alive and would have broken out had Archer managed to convert a much easier chance two minutes later.
Substitute Yuki Sugawara bent a cross to the small forward, whose soft touch allowed Kelleher to save before Morton hooked clear. Neither of them should have been given a chance.
Despite being tested, Liverpool continued to retain experienced figures as Alexis Mac Allister and then Gakpo were replaced.
Amid the wind and rain there was a feeling that, despite all their failures, Southampton had a chance here.
They were much improved and caused constant problems.
Liverpool had a chance to extinguish those hopes, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis recovered and blocked Chiesa on the line – as he would do in extra time.
Rusk sent on towering striker Paul Onuachu, who within seconds had clipped the ball from Nyoni but could not take advantage of the break.
The striker, named Tall Paul, should have taken a leveler when meeting Kamaldeen Sulemana's cross, but missed the goal and squandered the opportunity.
The hosts rained long throws and corners into their penalty area and were awarded a huge stoppage time penalty which was waved away when Quansah dragged down Fernandes.
Liverpool were now the ones looking poor, but just managed to hold on.
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