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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 scores twice as Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1

(Updates with quotes, details)
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LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -

Holders Liverpool scheduled their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 triumph over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to objectives from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal originated from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored two times to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.

Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans previously in the video game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, attacking 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 8 minutes later when he let loose 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 just inside the box.

"We came into this game understanding the circumstances that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out combating and we were prepared for it," Elliott told Sky sports betting.

The game was a tale of teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the summit and Southampton-- who sacked supervisor Russell Martin following Sunday's 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur-- in last place with just one win.

"We need to defend the trophy because the club won it last season, so we wish to compete in every league and this is among them, so we enjoy that we reached the semi-final," said Reds manager Arne Slot, who viewed the game from the press box while serving a touchline ban.

Palace had Arsenal reeling in the 4th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed aside Gunners protector Jakub Kiwior to latch onto a long ball and side-foot home.

But Arsenal completely dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent a lovely through ball into the box and the Brazilian chipped the ball over Dean Henderson.

'SUCH QUALITY'

Jesus, who had scored simply when this season before Wednesday, netted his second in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He completed his hat-trick 8 minutes later when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before firing previous Henderson.

"So happy for (Jesus). It's been a long duration for him without objectives," Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta informed press reporters. "To score the 3 kinds of objectives and the many actions that he was included in, it's a great thing for the team that we can depend on a gamer with such quality."

Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he jumped 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 a rocket from 20 backyards out-- his first goal considering that his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching sports betting rules.

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

"It was fantastic to see Sandro score the 2 that he did," Newcastle boss Eddie Howe informed the BBC. "Just a truly great sensation about the group at the moment. We are constructing in self-confidence all the time."

Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time however the game was well out of reach by then.

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

(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)
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