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Nunez and Elliott on target as Liverpool win 2-1
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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)

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -
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Holders Liverpool booked their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 success over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored two times to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.
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Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans earlier in the game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, striking 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 finishing previous McCarthy.

Elliott doubled the Reds' lead 8 minutes later on 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 entered into this game knowing the circumstances that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out combating and we were all set for it," Elliott informed Sky sports betting.

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

"We have to safeguard the prize because the club won it last season, so we desire to complete in every league and this is one of them, so we're delighted that we reached the semi-final," said Reds supervisor Arne Slot, who enjoyed the video game from journalism box while serving a touchline restriction.

Palace had Arsenal attracting the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta pushed aside Gunners protector Jakub Kiwior to lock onto 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 gorgeous through ball into the box and the Brazilian cracked the ball over Dean Henderson.

'SUCH QUALITY'

Jesus, who had scored simply once this season before Wednesday, netted his 2nd in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He completed his hat-trick eight minutes later when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before shooting previous Henderson.

"So delighted for (Jesus). It's been an extended period for him without goals," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta informed press reporters. "To score the three types of goals and the many actions that he was associated with, it's a great thing for the team 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 unleashed a rocket from 20 yards out-- his first objective since his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching sports betting guidelines.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the penalty area right before the break for his second objective, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent out 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 employer Eddie Howe told the BBC. "Just an actually excellent sensation about the group at the moment. We are integrating in confidence all the time."

pulled one back for Brentford in injury time however the video game was well out of reach already.
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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)
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