Liverpool inched Arsenal 5-4 in penalties of Thursday’s nail-biting round of 16 match of the ongoing Football League Cup.
At Anfield, a Reds side mixed with youth and experience clashed with the Gunners in a thrilling contest, which ended 5 goals apiece after the stipulated time, forcing the penalties to be a decider.
It all started in the 6th minute when Shkodran Mustafi slid in and diverted the ball into his own net, giving the hosts the lead — for the first and last time in the span of 90 minutes.
However, Lucas Torreira in the 19th minute netted the ball to level the scores and within 7 minutes to the goal, Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the coveted lead and since then Liverpool only trailed in the game.
Arsenal reached the scoreline of 3-1 in the 36th minute when Gabriel completed his brace. However, James Milner’s spot-kick reduced the gaps before the first half and the teams headed to their dressing rooms with Arsenal leading 3-2.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles restored the Gunners’ two-goal advantage nine minutes after the restart. But again in the 58th minute, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored to reduce the two-goal gap to one, which was followed by a leveler from Divock Origi in the 62nd minute.
Destined to trail on Thursday, the Jurgen Klopp side was once again left behind when Joe Willock, in the 70th minute, scored from well outside the area with a long-range stunner. But a classical turning kick from Divock Origi on a cross from debutant Neco Williams forced the match to end in a tie and go for penalties.
And it was Curtis Jones who scored the decider, netting to make it 5-4 to take Liverpool into the last eight after Caoimhin Kelleher had saved from Dani Ceballos.