what was a tough fixture list for Southampton during December, the manner of their defeats, especially at home to Chelsea and Spurs, was ultimately Martin’s undoing.
Going 3-0 down inside 14 minutes on Sunday night, and shipping five before the interval saw a mass exodus from St Mary’s, with many home supporters calling for the manager to go, and later that evening, their wish was granted.
The Spurs defeat leaves Southampton cut adrift at the bottom, nine points from safety, following a 13th defeat in 16 Premier League games this season.
Form in the cup was the only positive under Martin this season, scoring nine goals across wins against Cardiff City, Everton (on penalties) and Stoke City
That was quite the improvement on last season’s performance in the EFL Cup, when the Saints were knocked out in the first round by Gillingham, so they will now seek a second semi-final appearance in three seasons.Southampton were finalists as recently as 2017, beating upcoming opponents Liverpool across a two-legged semi-final,
exacting revenge for a 6-1 defeat at home to the Reds in the quarters the season previous.This will be a huge uphill task for the hosts, though, facing the current holders, 10-time winners and Premier League leaders.
New manager Arne Slot will be looking to replicate Jurgen Klopp, who has led Liverpool to two of the last three EFL Cups, and the Dutchman has breezed through the competition so far despite facing top-flight opposition.Both West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion were seen off despite Slot
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rotating heavily, making them the favourites for the competition.Liverpool won here at St Mary’s as recently as last month, edging a five-goal thriller that saw them go behind early in the second half, but they are now on two-game
winless streak domestically, something of a barren spell for Slot given his remarkable start.After going down to 10 men early on at home to Fulham at the weekend following Andy Robertson’s dismissal, Liverpool were still able to fight back for a 2-2 draw, thanks to Diogo
Jota’s late leveller at AnfieldThat came off the back of the postponement of the Merseyside derby, a few days after Liverpool were denied a win late on at Newcastle United, and those successive draws have allowed Chelsea to close the gap to two points.
