Team
Arne Slot changed his entire starting XI from the preceding weekend win over Everton, and the new line-up included competitive Liverpool debuts for Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni.
Isak was deployed as the focal point in attack for his second Reds start.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Isak (Ekitike, 46), Chiesa, Leoni (Kerkez, 81), Jones (Bradley, 57), Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha (Danns, 74).
Unused subs: Woodman, R. Williams, Gordon, Morrison, Pilling.
First half
Before the game began, Anfield observed a minute’s silence in memory of Matt Beard, the former LFC Women manager, who suddenly passed away on Saturday.
Isak might have put the hosts ahead within 45 seconds of kick-off.
Joe Gomez won the ball high up the pitch and Curtis Jones’ pass into the area was touched off nicely by Chiesa to the Sweden international, whose finish was deflected off target by Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
The Championship visitors were unruffled, however, and a strong subsequent spell for Will Still’s side saw Armstrong rifle a strike from a cutback that Mamardashvili had to get palms on to tip behind.
It was proving a struggle for the Reds to get any flow into their football, though Chiesa tried to inject some zest into proceedings with a low snapshot that McCarthy got down to glove away from his near post.
Nathan Wood then blocked out the Italian as he brought down Rio Ngumoha’s delivery across the area and rasped another hit goalwards.
Gomez’s clearance from a Ryan Manning cross shaved the outside of the post ahead of a pivotal passage of play just shy of half-time.
Southampton sprung Armstrong in space and his dinked effort beat Mamardashvili but kissed the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly to Leo Scienza but he could only nudge wide.
Within seconds, Liverpool were in front.
Chiesa pounced upon a misjudged pass out from McCarthy and instantly squared to his left for Isak, who opened his Reds account with an assured strike and went off sliding in celebration.
