Liverpool left back Alberto Moreno has stressed the importance of starting their EFL Cup semi-final first leg off strongly against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday.

At this stage during the competition last season, the Reds won the away leg of their semi-final clash against Stoke City 1-0 before beating them on penalties in the second leg having lost the return.

However, Moreno has urged his players to give it their all in the hopes of walking away with a positive result at St Mary’s Stadium.

‘I think that’s the most important thing in the tie, to go down there and make sure we come back with something positive because we’ve been lucky enough in the draw that we play the second leg in front of our own fans at Anfield,’ Moreno told the Liverpool website.

‘What we’ll do is work on their strengths and look at how they play so we’re best prepared to go down there and get a result that will make the tie favourable to us by the time we get back to Anfield.’

Liverpool against Southampton kicks off at 21:45.

Image: Liverpool website