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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, information)

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) -

Holders Liverpool scheduled 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 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 twice to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford.

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

Elliott doubled the Reds' lead eight minutes later on when he let loose a low, tough 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 package.

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

The video 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 location with just one win.

"We need to safeguard the prize because the club won it last season, so we wish to compete in every league and this is among them, so we're pleased that we reached the semi-final," stated Reds manager Arne Slot, who saw the game from journalism box while serving a touchline restriction.

Palace had Arsenal drawing in the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged 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 lovely through ball into package and the Brazilian cracked 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 eight minutes later on when he ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace's back line before shooting previous Henderson.

"So delighted for (Jesus). It's been a long duration for him without objectives," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta informed reporters. "To score the three kinds of objectives and the many actions that he was associated with, it's a great thing for the group that we can rely 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 released a rocket from 20 backyards out-- his first goal given that his return in late-August from a 10-month restriction for breaching sports betting rules.

Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon's cross from near the charge spot prior to the break for his 2nd goal, and their lead when Bruno Guimaraes sent a pass throughout the objective for Fabian Schar to tap home in the 69th.

"It was terrific to see Sandro score the two that he did," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told the BBC. "Just an actually great feeling about the group at the minute. We are constructing in self-confidence all the time."

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