Liverpool 3-3 (5-4 on pens) Leicester City
Liverpool have made it through to the last four of the EFL Cup after a pulsating night at Anfield, which saw a last-gasp comeback and a penalty shootout win for the Reds against Leicester City.
The EFL Cuphas provided some fantastic entertainment and this game was an absolute banger! Leicester’s arch poacher Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes an early two-goal lead before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain halved the deficit, and then a James Maddison stunner restored Leicester’s two-goal lead.
Diogo Jota pulled one back midway through the second half and Takumi Minamino levelled on 95 minutes to take the game to penalties.
The Reds have drawn Arsenal in the semi-finals and there is some discussion whether the semi-finals will be one or two legs, with the Liverpool boss favouring a 90-minute bout and he’ll need to catch his breath after this one!
Highlights of the game
Four goals in the first half and the Foxes were flying! Jamie Vardy has been one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers over the past seven seasons and he showed just why in five devastating minutes. Maddison found the striker, who turned his defender before hammering a bullet into the corner to open the scoring. And Vardy made it two when the young Zambian striker Patson Daka put him in to fire home.
Liverpool’s youngsters were being outplayed by Leicester’s squad players, but two experienced Reds hauled the hosts back into the game. Roberto Firmino, back from injury, shielded the ball with his back to goal and then pushed the ball cleverly into the path of the Ox who fired home to lift the Anfield crowd.
But just as the Merseysiders were settling back into their seats, we had one of the EFL Cup 2021 highlights of the competition, courtesy of James Maddison. The Foxes’ midfielder took advantage of a ball bouncing back off a Liverpool defender and then hit a screamer beyond the Pool keeper and into the roof of the net.
Down 3-1 at the break, the Reds had work to do, and one of their in-form strikers sparked hope again on 68 minutes. The Brazilian maestro Firmino was involved again, feeding Takumi Minamino and then he slid through a sublime ball which Jota hammered into the far corner. And when the Reds thought they were out they struck back with a last-gasp leveller which Minamino smashed home to take the game to penalties.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved young Luke Thomas’s spot kick but then Minamino smashed over to take the shootout to sudden death. Kelleher saved again from Ryan Bertrand and Jota coolly converted the winner.
Key statistics
As second-favourites to lift the 2022 trophy, according to the latest EFL Cup 2021 betting odds,Liverpool have taken their place in the last four but they were lucky to get through this pulsating clash.
The Reds had the biggest share of possession at 66 per cent and fired 22 shots on the Spurs goal but the Foxes had more shots on target, seven to six, and rookie keeper Kelleher can be pleased with his night’s work to send Liverpool through to their 18th appearance in the League Cup semi-final.
What’s next?
There’s a full set of Premier League fixtures on Boxing Day when Liverpool are set to host Leeds, and Leicester City have a meeting with league leaders Manchester City.
The Carabao Cup latter stages have been a little strange without the Sky Blues in the mix; they have been champions in six of the last eight seasons including the last four. But Pep Guardiola’s side is clearly capable of winning any competition they enter and they are getting close to taking a grip on the Premier League, already three points clear.
Liverpool is the team in second place but, for the game against Leeds the Reds will be without full-back Andrew Robertson after he was sent off in last week’s 2-2 draw with Spurs and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be previewing and reporting on the game as Leeds try to climb out of the rut they have found themselves in. Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been beset by injury problems, but he might need to tweak his philosophy slightly. His attacking instincts have led to heavy defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Arsenal, and a grubby draw or even a backs-to-the-wall victory would be just about perfect.
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