Southampton interim Simon Rusk could get Aaron Ramsdale boost for Liverpool tie

Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk could receive a major injury boost as the Saints turn their attention to the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Liverpool after Russell Martin was sacked on Sunday night.

Injured goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was a pundit for TNT Sports during the Saints’ shambolic 5-0 loss to Tottenham, which made it 13 defeats in 16 Premier League matches and ultimately cost Martin his job.

Ramsdale has missed Southampton’s last five matches with a finger problem, but hopes to be involved in Wednesday’s cup tie with Liverpool and Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

“It was a tough one to watch. It must have been a lot harder to play. After the work you put in, to go behind that quickly and be 5-0 down at half-time, I can’t imagine the feeling playing that second half.

“We have to just forgot about it really quickly, which is easier said than done. I am sure it will be a real tough one for the boys, but we’ve got to go again.

“We’ve got a big game and one we can try to get into the semi-final of the cup on Wednesday.”

Summer recruit Ramsdale watched Southampton concede after 36 seconds at St Mary’s and after being 3-0 down inside 14 minutes, they shipped two more before half-time.

The home fans had already turned on Martin by this point, with repeated chants calling for the 38-year-old to leave the club, and he actually missed the final goal of the first half after he headed for the dressing room with a minute of stoppage time left.

Saints’ 5-0 loss keeps them bottom of the Premier League on five points, but the immediate focus for Rusk – who only joined the club as under-21s boss in July – is the visit of Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Rusk started his coaching career in Brighton’s academy in 2015 as their under-23s boss before he had a nine-month period in charge of Stockport three years ago.

A role with the Football Association followed but after being tasked with leading England Under-19s, Rusk spent the second half of last season at Nottingham Forest as their specialist set-piece coach before he moved to St Mary’s in the summer.

Rusk will have precious little time before the midweek visit of Liverpool, but will have a group of players determined to respond to Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing.

Centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis told Premier League Productions: “We need to be better. It’s as simple as that.

“We have got boys in there willing to put anything on the line. It sounds a bit deluded, but we have what it takes in this dressing room (to stay up). We are not going to stop believing.”