Bernd Leno saved two penalties while Joe Willock scored Arsenal’s deciding penalty kick to send them past Liverpool and into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
It was the second time in three days both teams faced each other and the coaches rotated the squad.
Takumi Minamino, who started for Liverpoolm, struck the bar for the hosts on the stroke of half-time with Liverpool dominating all of the possession, but Arsenal defended stoutly while occasionally showing their threat on the break.
A revitalised Liverpool side came back after half-time much improved and were denied twice by two great Bernd Leno saves, first from Virgil van Dijk and then from Marko Grujic, before he was equally alert to keep out Diogo Jota’s excellent control and shot.
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The Gunners’ struggled to turn their pace in attack into clear-cut opportunities with the game ending in penalties, where Mohamed Elneny, Divock Origi, and Harry Wilson missed from 12 yards.
Arsenal, however, managed to seal the victory and are through to face Manchester City in the last eight.
Watch the match highlights below
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Jurgen Klopp says: “We lacked goals! So many things are different when you mix it up, in decisive positions especially. I really liked how the boys did it, there were a lot of really good performances, it could have been a Premier League game, it was really good, but we lacked here or there the last pass, there was a big one from Diogo Jota and another big chance in the first half.”
On Xherdan Shaqiri’s omission: “It’s the time of the year when things go on in the background and you have to react to that sometimes and that’s what we did.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “I was here, waiting, enjoying the victory and now we have to play Manchester City the 22nd or 23rd of December, but it is what it is.
“There are some big teams in the competition and we’ll be ready for it. We want to take every competition as an opportunity to win a trophy. We’ll go game by game.”
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Arsenal have reached the League Cup quarter-final in four of the last five seasons; this was their first penalty shootout victory in the competition since the 2013-14 third round at West Brom.
- Liverpool have lost four of their last six penalty shootouts in all competitions, including two to Arsenal this season (also in the Community Shield).
- Arsenal are without a win in 10 visits to Liverpool across all competitions (D4 L6) since a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in September 2012.
- This was the first goalless draw between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield since August 1998 in the Premier League.
- Liverpool played out their first goalless draw in the League Cup since October 1992 against Sheffield United, and first at Anfield in the competition since January 1982 versus Barnsley.
Said Benrahma stars as Brentford reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Said Benrahma scored a brace to send Brentford into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after a 3-0 win over struggling West London rivals Fulham.
Marcus Forss opened the scoring shortly before half-time before a Benrahma’s brace ensured Thomas Frank’s side gained a modicum of revenge for their defeat to the Cottagers in the Championship play-off final.
Watch the match highlights below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcEPR9w15og
Brentford have now booked a last-eight clash at home to another Premier League side Newcastle United.
A resolute Stoke City side earns qualification into Carabao Cup quarters
Championship side Stoke City reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Premier League side Aston Villa, who were last season’s runners-up, with a fine 1-0 win courtesy of Sam Vokes’ 26th-minute header.
Villa despite having impressed during their opening two Premier League games lacked rhythm as Dean Smith made 11 changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage on Monday.
Watch the match highlights below
Stoke City, however, deserved their victory, handed to them by Vokes’ flick-on at the near post from Jordan Thompson’s corner. Vokes also came close to doubling his tally from close range in the second half.
The hosts, Aston Villa, offered very little to trouble Adam Davies in the Stoke goal with Anwar El Ghazi coming closest to forcing penalties with a low drive as the Championship side prevailed to book a home date with Tottenham in the quarter-finals.
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