Nunez and Elliott on target as Liverpool win 2-1

Jesus bags treble as Arsenal beat Palace 3-2
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Tonali ratings twice as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1

(Updates with quotes, information)

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -
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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 twice to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Nunez, who had actually been goaded by Saints fans previously in the video game for a wild miss out on, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, striking after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by 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, hard 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 this video game knowing the situations that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out battling and we were all set for it,” Elliott told Sky sports betting.

The game was a tale of teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the top and Southampton-- who sacked supervisor Russell Martin following Sunday’s 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last place with simply one win.

“We need to safeguard the prize because 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,” stated Reds manager Arne Slot, who viewed the video game from journalism box while serving a touchline ban.

Palace had Arsenal reeling in the 4th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed aside Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior to lock onto a long ball and side-foot home.

But Arsenal completely dominated the 2nd half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent a beautiful through ball into the box and the Brazilian broke the ball over Dean Henderson.

‘SUCH QUALITY’

Jesus, who had scored just when this season before Wednesday, netted his 2nd in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He finished 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 delighted for (Jesus). It’s been a long period for him without objectives,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta told reporters. “To score the three types of objectives and the many actions that he was associated with, it’s a great 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 leapt 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 released a rocket from 20 yards out-- his first goal given that his return in late-August from a 10-month restriction for breaching wagering rules.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon’s cross from near the charge spot just before the break for his second goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent a pass throughout the goal 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 an actually great sensation about the group at the minute. We are integrating in confidence all the time.”

Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time but the video game was well out of reach already.
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The last semi-final location is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)