Alexander Isak started making repayments on his British transfer record fee with his first goal for Liverpool but it required a late effort from centre-forward rival Hugo Ekitike to beat Southampton 2-1 in the Carabao Cup. His pending suspension means Isak will almost certainly start at Crystal Palace on Saturday, although that may have been head coach Arne Slot’s plan anyway as he continues to build up his fitness. Ekitike was sent off for celebrating his winner (Peter Byrne/PA)However, Isak has been brought in to achieve more than safe passage to the fourth round of the League Cup against a lowly Championship side. But his inclusion from the start served to show the gulf in quality with Southampton’s total squad valued at an estimated £150m. However, Ekitike maintained this season’s narrative by tapping Chiesa’s square pass into an empty net five minutes from time before his moment of madness saw him depart early.