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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) -

Holders Liverpool reserved their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 success over Southampton at a damp 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.

Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans previously in the game for a wild miss out on, 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 ending up past McCarthy.

Elliott doubled the Reds' lead 8 minutes later on when he unleashed a low, hard 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 game knowing the scenarios that Southampton were going through and knew they were going to come out combating and we were ready for it," Elliott told Sky sports betting.

The game was a tale of groups 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 location with just one win.
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"We have to protect the trophy due to the fact that the club won it last season, so we wish to contend 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 viewed the video game from the press box while serving a touchline ban.

Palace had Arsenal drawing in the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged 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 beautiful through ball into the box and the Brazilian broke the ball over Dean Henderson.

'SUCH QUALITY'
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Jesus, who had actually 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 finished his hat-trick 8 minutes later on when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before firing past Henderson.

"So pleased for (Jesus). It's been a long duration for him without objectives," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told press reporters. "To score the 3 types of goals and the numerous actions that he was associated with, it's an excellent 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 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 let loose a rocket from 20 backyards out-- his first objective considering that his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching sports betting guidelines.

home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the charge spot prior to the break for his 2nd 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 fantastic to see Sandro score the 2 that he did," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe informed the BBC. "Just a really good sensation about the group at the moment. We are integrating in confidence all the time."
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Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time but the game was well out of reach by then.

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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