page_title: 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season
section_title: EFL Cup
hierarchical_section_title: 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season / EFL Cup
caption_attribution_description: English: Southampton, St Mary's Stadium, August 5, 2017. Southampton FC — Sevilla FC 2-0 (Stephens 26', Gabbiadini 82'), exhibition game. Saints' forward Manolo Gabbiadini.
context_page_description: The 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 18th season in the Premier League and their 40th in the top division of English football. In addition to the 2016–17 Premier League, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League. The season was the club's only campaign with manager Claude Puel, who took over from Ronald Koeman on 30 June 2016. The club finished eighth in the Premier League table, having won twelve, drawn ten and lost sixteen of their 38 matches played. They were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League at the group stage, having won two, drawn two and lost two of their matches, and the FA Cup in the fourth round, while they finished as runners-up in the EFL Cup Final losing 3–2 to Manchester United.
  Following the end of the 2015–16 season, Southampton released goalkeeper Will Britt, midfielder Gastón Ramírez and defender Josh Debayo, while veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis retired. The club also sold striker Juanmi to Real Sociedad, midfielder Victor Wanyama to Tottenham Hotspur, winger Sadio Mané to Liverpool, striker Graziano Pellè to Shandong Luneng, defender Bevis Mugabi to Yeovil Town, and defender Jordan Turnbull to Coventry City.
context_section_description: Crystal Palace (21 September 2016)
  As a club competing in both the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League, Southampton entered the 2016–17 EFL Cup in the third round. On 21 September 2016 the club hosted Crystal Palace, beating the fellow Premier League side 2–0 to advance to the fourth round. Charlie Austin scored his fourth goal in three games in all competitions from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute to open the scoring, following a foul by Martin Kelly on Shane Long. After the break, young midfielder Jake Hesketh scored his first goal for the club (in his first senior appearance since December 2014) to double Southampton's lead, which they held until the end to ensure their place in the fourth round of the tournament.
  Sunderland (26 October 2016)
  In the fourth round of the EFL Cup, Southampton were drawn at home against Sunderland. The Saints beat the visitors on 26 October by a solitary goal to advance to the fifth round of the tournament. The only goal of the game was scored by Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal's long-range strike into the top corner, on his first start for the home side since his move in the summer. Very few chances were enjoyed by either side throughout the 90 minutes (Southampton had only one shot on target, while Sunderland had two), and Sunderland manager David Moyes was dismissed by the referee late on in the game as he and his side appealed for a penalty following a tackle by Maya Yoshida on Victor Anichebe.
  Arsenal (30 November 2016)
  On 30 November 2016, Southampton faced Arsenal in the fifth round of the EFL Cup, winning 2–0 to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 1987. Jordy Clasie opened the scoring within the first 15 minutes of the game with his first goal for the club, striking from the edge of the penalty area after Sofiane Boufal's initial effort was blocked. The home side increased the pressure in search of an equaliser, but the Saints struck again through Ryan Bertrand shortly before half time to double their lead going into the break. The Gunners began the second half the stronger side, but the Saints later responded and came close to scoring a third goal, with Boufal and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg coming close late on.
  Liverpool first leg (11 January 2017)
  In the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, Southampton beat Liverpool 1–0 at St Mary's. Liverpool enjoyed the majority of possession early in the match, but Nathan Redmond opened the scoring for the hosts within 20 minutes with his first goal in the competition, after being set up by Jay Rodriguez. Redmond almost made it two for the Saints on two separate occasions before the break, but was denied both times by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. In the second half, the home side again came closing to doubling their lead when Cédric Soares shot wide, before Shane Long set up another scoring opportunity for Redmond, who hit the crossbar with a chipped shot.
  Liverpool second leg (25 January 2017)
  In the second leg, Southampton beat Liverpool 1–0 to secure a 2–0 aggregate win and advance to the 2017 EFL Cup Final. Liverpool dominated possession throughout the majority of the game, but the Saints enjoyed more clear-cut chances to score in the first half, with Dušan Tadić and Steven Davis coming closest to breaking the deadlock. The hosts increased the pressure after the break, but Daniel Sturridge missed multiple chances on goal to leave the Saints with the advantage. Emre Can came closest for Liverpool in the 53rd minute, when goalkeeper Fraser Forster failed to hold his shot before saving it off the line to keep his clean sheet. Shane Long finally scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time, securing Southampton's first cup final since 2003 and their first EFL Cup final since 1979. The result made Southampton the first team to advance to the final of the tournament without conceding a single goal.
  Manchester United (26 February 2017)
  In the 2017 EFL Cup Final on 26 February 2017, Southampton lost 3–2 to Manchester United to finish as runners-up. Manolo Gabbiadini scored early on in the game, b
caption: Manolo Gabbiadini scored both of Southampton's goals in the 2017 EFL Cup Final.
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