Liverpool beat Leicester on penalties after the exciting Carabao Cup quarter-final match | Carabao Cup

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Jurgen Klopp will be wary of pressing Arsenal’s semi-final back and forth into Liverpool’s already difficult schedule, but for at least a fleeting moment, the Carabao Cup brought him joy at Anfield.

The thrilling victory in the fight and penalty shootout against Leicester confirmed that while the faces may change, Liverpool’s indefatigable spirit is unshakable.

Liverpool came from 2-0 down and 3-1 to enter the magical quarter-final on penalties thanks to the equalizer in the 95th minute from Takumi Minamino. The Japan international missed a chance to enjoy a great night by hitting a potentially crucial fifth penalty kick for Liverpool over the bar. But no other teammate faltered.

Liverpool goalkeeper Kawimhen Keeler saved from Luke Thomas and in the sudden death of Ryan Bertrand. Diogo Jota took his side’s sixth penalty kick after Kasper Schmeichel’s right hand and Klopp’s unfamiliar side were in unfamiliar territory in the domestic cup semi-final.

For Leicester, this was a great opportunity squandered. The visitors were relieved to go up at halftime after two goals from Jamie Vardy and a stunning effort from James Madison. But injuries to Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Soyuncu, forcing them out of a tired defense, prompted a reshuffle from Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool eventually benefited from a weary Leicester retreat. Jota was instrumental in the recovery, as did Naby Keita, two second-half changes from Klopp that helped turn the tie around.

“We had to change the team structure in the second half due to injuries,” said the Leicester boss, who was unable to call up Vardy in the penalty shootout as his top scorer had a hamstring problem. “In the first half we were excellent, we scored three goals at Anfield and we should have had four or five. Defensively, you know you’re going to struggle sometimes but it looked like we were going to win, so the concession in the 95th is very frustrating after all. given by the players.

Caoimhin Kelleher’s save from Ryan Bertrand was vital to Liverpool’s penalty shootout win. Photography: Paul Currie/Shutterstock

Klopp gave French central defender Billy Cometiu his first big break and included teenage teammates Tyler Morton and Conor Bradley in a squad that included 10 changes to the starting line-up at Tottenham on Sunday. All three were replaced half the time. Rodgers has gone much stronger, despite Covid issues that have forced Leicester to postpone their last two Premier League games against Tottenham and Everton. He was rewarded with a decisive first-half performance that should have led to a better lead against an uncertain Liverpool defence.

Batson cut Dhaka off Leicester’s first attack, forcing Keeler to the rescue at his near post after a reckless pass from Joe Gomez. Moments later, Costas Tsimikas gave the ball cheap and left the full-back exposed. Popakari Somare exchanged passes with Pereira before finding Madison. Midfielder Vardy fired with a delightful volley for the first time and the veteran fired a clean, low shot past Keeler.

A quick guide to the Carabao Cup semi-final draw

Arsenal – Liverpool – Chelsea – Tottenham

Double matches will be played in the weeks of January 3 and 10

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Vardy didn’t have to wait long to add to his 10th goal of the season. Leicester attacked again with speed and precision when Nico Williams lost the ball in front of the magnificent Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He found Dhaka in the space on the left, and when Comitio closed in, the striker sent a perfect ball past Liverpool’s defense for Vardy to turn it in from close range.

Tsimikas made up for his mistake by creating Liverpool’s quick response through Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Greek international passed the ball over Pereira’s head, who was injured in an early error by Morton and eventually had to go out, and Williams’ cross was made to head to Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool striker found the midfielder on the edge of the area and Oxlade-Chamberlain fired a superb shot into Schmeichel’s lower right corner.

Leicester finished third in his technique. Madison had a lucky bounce of the ball when he got a pass from Dewsbury-Hall, and rode a challenge from Oxlade-Chamberlain. There was nothing serendipitous about the shot that followed. Peeking at 25 yards, the midfielder made great call to find the roof of the net. It was a great effort, powerful but also in the middle of Keeler’s goal, and the goalkeeper’s reaction was that he knew he should have done better.

Vardy nearly hit four goals before the break when Gomez let a routine pass from Morton slip away. The Leicester striker jumped, and although he beat Keeler again, his low shot was fired from inside the far post before it was hit by Gomez.

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Klopp brought more experience into his squad with three first-half substitutions and recovery regained momentum when Jota beat Schmeichel with a clinical finish from Minamino’s touch. It seemed that Leicester survived when Schmeichel headed in from Jota, but in the last seconds Wilfred Ndidi missed a header from James Milner’s cross and Minamino passed the equalizer in the lower corner. Penalty kicks and a place in the semi-finals.

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