Daniel Sturridge strikes twice, Divock Origi nets hat-trick as Liverpool hammer Southampton

Divock Origi broke his Liverpool duck with a hat-trick and Daniel Sturridge scored a superb double as Jurgen Klopp’s side recovered from conceding after 41 seconds to run riot at Southampton.

Southampton flew out of the blocks, with Sadio Mane leaping high to meet Ryan Bertrand’s cross to score a very early opener. Saints almost doubled their lead a few minutes later with an identical move, but this time Victor Wanyama couldn’t direct his header beyond stand-in goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

Liverpool made them pay with a leveller out of nothing, and with their first meaningful attack of the game. Sturridge collected Joe Allen’s searching through ball and arrowed a pinpoint shot into the bottom corner.

Southampton didn’t know what had hit them four minutes later when Sturridge scored another after a sublime through ball with the outside of Emre Can’s right foot split the Saints defence, and Sturridge swept in from close-range.

Origi added a third in the final minute of the first half, diverting in after Alberto Moreno rifled a shot from the edge of the box after Southampton failed to deal with Adam Lallana’s corner.

If there was any doubt over Origi's first Liverpool goal, there was no dispute over his second, thrashing into the roof of the net after substitute Jordon Ibe rolled the ball into the Belgian's path.

Ibe got on the scoresheet himself to make it 5-1, taking down Moreno's cross on his chest and drilling in low from the edge of the box, before Origi completed his hat-trick nodding in Brad Smith's cross to complete Southampton's misery.

1’ GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Liverpool: Mane scores after 41 seconds for Saints! Tadic tees up Bertrand on the left, his first-time cross finds Mane, who leaps well to nod into the bottom corner. What a start!

5’ ALMOST ANOTHER! And it's almost a carbon copy of the first. A cross from the left this time finds Wanyama in space in the box, but he heads it straight at Bogdan.

25’ GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Liverpool: Sturridge is back with a bang! Allen lofts a good ball over the top for the England striker, who still has lots to do, but steals a yard off Caulker and finds the bottom corner with a pinpoint shot. Superb goal.

29’ GOAL! Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: Sturridge has another! This one is even better than the first and it's all about the assist from Can, who delivers a sumptuous ball with the outside of his right foot, and Sturridge sweeps it in first time. Just brilliant.

45’ GOAL! Southampton 1-3 Liverpool: Origi scores for Liverpool! Lallana's corner is half cleared to Moreno, who rifles in a low first-time shot from outside the box that deflects off Origi and goes in.

68’ GOAL! Southampton 1-4 Liverpool: Origi makes it four with his second Liverpool goal! Ibe rolls it into his path and the Belgian thrashes it into the roof of the net. Lovely finish.

73' GOAL! Southampton 1-5 Liverpool: Ibe makes it five! Origi's backheel finds Moreno in space down the left, his deep cross finds Ibe, who takes it on his chest and lashes a low shot in from 15 yards. Top finish.

86’ GOAL! Southampton 1-6 Liverpool: Origi has his hat-trick! Smith gets in on the action with a cross from the left that Origi simply nods in.

Divock Origi becomes the first ever Liverpool player to score a hat-trick at Southampton.

Sadio Mane scored after 39 seconds, the quickest League Cup goal this season.

Daniel Sturridge has now scored six times in his last five League Cup games.

How can Klopp accommodate all of his strikers? Since Klopp’s arrival at Liverpool, he’s gone from having only Divock Origi fit, to having Origi, Benteke, Firmino and Sturridge all available to him. And that’s before you even think about Danny Ings, who has a long-term injury. Klopp will have to experiment with his forwards to find the right balance, and that could take some time.

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool): What a return to the starting line-up, not showing any signs of sluggishness after another long spell out. Sturridge was as sharp as ever and at his clinical best in front of goal, taking both goals superbly well. Origi quite clearly deserves a mention, but Sturridge’s goals came at a crucial time for the Reds.

Southampton: Stekelenburg 5, Cedric 3, Caulker 4, van Dijk 5, Bertrand 6, Wanyama 4, Clasie 5, S Davis 6, Mane 7, Tadic 6, Pelle 4. Subs: Ward-Prowse 5, Long 5.

Liverpool: Bogdan 7, Randall 7, Skrtel 7, Lovren 7, Moreno 7, Lallana 7, Lucas 8, Allen 7, Can 8, Origi 8, Sturridge 9. Subs: Smith 6, Henderson 6, Ibe 7.