SAINTS goal hero Nathan Redmond was left to rue his missed chances despite putting Claude Puel’s side in the driving seat against Liverpool in their EFL Cup semi-final double header.

Redmond's first-half strike was the difference at a packed-out St Mary's and ended Saints’ four-match winless run in all competitions on their first appearance in the last four of a major competition since 2003.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool finished runners-up in the competition last season and will return to Anfield needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

"I should have had four today, on another day they might go in. We got the win in the first leg so we take it on to the second leg," Redmond said.

Redmond netted his fourth goal of the season on 20 minutes, but had several opportunities to extend Saints’ lead.

But which one did he rue the most?

“The first one and the last one,” he said. “The last one I tried to be a bit too smart and just chip it over. I'll take those mistakes and try to put it right in training and the next game.

“We got a clean sheet and a win in the first leg so we'll take that on to the second.

“It's credit to the whole team, we've got to work hard for each other and we did that today.”

Saints' captain against Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, who once again took the armband in the absence of Jose Fonte, was satisfied after keeping a clean sheet.

Puel’s side are yet to conceded in the League Cup, making it four shutouts against the Red, which is more than any other side.

"We won today and kept the clean sheet which is the most important thing," he said. "We played some good football at times, obviously Liverpool are a great team. We were good on the ball as well. It was a great team performance today.

"It's all about communication. They have a lot of movement up front and a lot of running so we really talked to each other and I think we did it really well and it's a good win to go to Anfield."