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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 two times as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1

(Updates with quotes, details)

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -
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Holders Liverpool reserved their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to objectives from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.
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Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal originated 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 game for a wild miss out on, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, pouncing after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by keeper Alex McCarthy. Nunez put his finger to his lips in a gesture to the crowd after completing past McCarthy.

Elliott doubled the Reds' lead eight minutes later when he unleashed a low, difficult shot from Cody Gakpo's pass. Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from simply inside package.

"We came into this video game knowing the situations that Southampton were going through and understood they were going to come out fighting and we were all set for it," Elliott informed Sky sports betting.
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The game was a tale of groups at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the summit and Southampton-- who sacked manager Russell Martin following Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last location with simply one win.

"We need to safeguard the prize because the club won it last season, so we wish to contend in every league and this is one of them, so we more than happy that we reached the semi-final," stated Reds supervisor Arne Slot, who viewed the video game from the press box while serving a touchline ban.

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

But Arsenal thoroughly dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent out a stunning through ball into package and the Brazilian cracked the ball over .
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'SUCH QUALITY'

Jesus, who had scored just once this season before Wednesday, netted his second in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He finished his hat-trick eight minutes later on when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before firing past Henderson.
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"So delighted for (Jesus). It's been a long duration for him without goals," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told press reporters. "To score the 3 kinds of objectives and the numerous actions that he was associated with, it's a terrific thing for the group that we can depend 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 lawns out-- his first goal given that his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching wagering rules.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the penalty spot prior to the break for his second objective, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent a pass across the objective for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.

"It was terrific to see Sandro score the 2 that he did," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe informed the BBC. "Just a really good feeling about the group at the moment. We are integrating in self-confidence all the time."
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Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time however the video game was well out of reach already.

The last semi-final place is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)