bet9ja.com
Nunez and Elliott on target as Liverpool win 2-1

Jesus bags treble as Palace 3-2

*

Tonali scores two times as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1

(Updates with quotes, information)

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -

Holders Liverpool reserved their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 triumph over Southampton at a damp and windy St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to objectives from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored two times to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.
bet9ja.com
Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans previously in the video game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, striking after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by keeper Alex McCarthy. Nunez put his finger to his lips in a gesture to the crowd after ending up past McCarthy.

Elliott doubled the Reds’ lead 8 minutes later on when he released a low, difficult shot from Cody Gakpo’s pass. Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from just inside package.

“We entered into this video game knowing the circumstances that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out battling and we were ready for it,” Elliott told Sky sports betting.
bet9ja.com
The video game was a tale of teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the top and Southampton-- who sacked manager Russell Martin following Sunday’s 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last location with simply one win.

“We have to defend the prize due to the fact that the club won it last season, so we wish to complete in every league and this is among them, so we enjoy that we reached the semi-final,” said Reds manager Arne Slot, who saw the video game from journalism box while serving a touchline restriction.

Palace had Arsenal reeling in the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed aside Gunners protector Jakub Kiwior to latch onto a long ball and side-foot home.

But Arsenal completely dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent out a beautiful through ball into package and the Brazilian cracked the ball over Dean Henderson.
bet9ja.com
‘SUCH QUALITY’

Jesus, who had actually scored just once this season before Wednesday, netted his 2nd in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He completed his hat-trick 8 minutes later on when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace’s back line before shooting past Henderson.

“So pleased for (Jesus). It’s been a long duration for him without objectives,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta informed reporters. “To score the 3 kinds of objectives and the lots of actions that he was included in, it’s a terrific thing for the team that we can rely on a player with such quality.”

Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he jumped high to head home past David Raya.

At St James’ Park, Tonali scored in the ninth minute when Nathan Collins’ attempted clearance fell at his feet and he unleashed a rocket from 20 yards out-- his very first objective given that his return in late-August from a 10-month restriction for breaching sports betting rules.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon’s cross from near the penalty spot right before the break for his 2nd goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent out a pass across the objective for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.

“It was terrific to see Sandro score the two that he did,” Newcastle employer Eddie Howe informed the BBC. “Just a truly great feeling about the group at the moment. We are integrating in confidence all the time.”
bet9ja.com
Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time however the video game was well out of reach by then.

The last semi-final place is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)