EFL Cup: Jones Send Reds through Quarter Finals in an Atmosphere of Goals; Liverpool 5 (5) - (4) 5 Arsenal

Liverpool qualified into the quarterfinals of the English League Cup after winning 5-4 on penalties against Arsenal.

Klopp made 11 changes from the side that beat Tottenham at the weekend. A debut for 18-year-old Welsh right-back Neco Williams and a first start for Sepp Van Den Berg at centre-back. There was a lot more experience, including former Arsenal man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Champions League final goal scorer Divock Origi, while young blood also led the line in the shape of Rhian Brewster.

 

 

Arsenal also did total about turn from Sunday's draw at home to Crystal Palace. Mesut Ozil returned in midfield with the furore surrounding him, while Hector Bellerin wore the captain's armband.

Bukayo Saka was back in the line-up after being benched on Sunday, and Gabriel Martinelli who scored twice against Nottingham Forest in the third round started up front.

 

 

Liverpool opened the scores as early as the 6-minute through a Mustafi own goal.

Kolasinac got sucked towards the ball and gave Oxlade-Chamberlain acres of space to run into behind. His cross was turned past Martinez by Mustafi.

Liverpool were in full control of the game as Arsenal regained their shape and counter attacked the Reds considering the fact that they carried the stronger side on the pitch.

Arsenal put some pressure on and Liverpool's defence and it finally crumbled.

Martinelli kept the ball alive under pressure on the left caught it across for Torreira who could not get a clean touch on it. He moved it back inside to Saka who pulled a smart save out of Kelleher. The hosts were static and Torreira reacted quickest to stab the rebound in for an equalizer.

 

 

Replays showed he was offside but VAR could not check because of it unemployment in the League Cup.

Martinelli scored Arsenals’ second in the 26-minute after Liverpool switched off again from a short free kick out to Maitland-Niles on the right.

Origi was slow to get out to him and was desperate not to foul him when he got into the box. Maitland-Niles crossed and Van Den Berg nearly scored an own goal but just about recovered. His efforts were in vain when Martinelli nipped in to bury the ball from four yards.

 

 

The Reds built some momentum and choked Arsenal high up the pitch but he kept them penned in for a corner. Oxlade-Chamberlain took the corner towards Lallana but it was headed away.

The Gunners scored a third through Martinelli in the 36-minute.

Williams found Elliott down the right but he hits a poor ball inside which was caught out by Saka. He found Ozil inside the box and the German squared for Martinelli to double Arsenal's lead.

Milner scored Liverpool’s second on the spot after Martinelli fouled Elliott in the yard. The second half recorded its first strike from Arsenal through Maitland-Niles in the 54 minute.

 

 

A howler from James Milner under no pressure passed back to Kelleher but it was so short that Maitland-Niles got in first. His touch was a bit heavy but Ozil got to the byline, kept the ball in with an outrageous backheel and Maitland-Niles poked in on the line. 2-4 for Arsenal.

Liverpool responded quickly three minutes later from Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stunner.

Lallana's header was followed by Chamberlain ghosting in behind Maitland-Niles to take the ball away for him before smashing it past Martinez from 25 yards. 

The Reds were back in the game in the 62-minute. 4-4 it was. Jones found Origi after a good run from midfield and the forward spined Holding onto his right foot before smashing a shot goal wards, which Martinez could only palm into the top corner.

The goals kept raining goals at Anfield as Willock empowered a rocket 20 yards away from the yard.

 

 

Oxlade-Chamberlain came off for Chirivella as Kolasinac hobbled off the bench for Tierney to take over. Within five minutes of additional time, Divock Origi gave Liverpool the equalizer.

Brewster kept the ball alive from a cross, debutant Williams got to the byline and swung in a cross. Origi, on the turn, volleyed into the bottom corner to take the game to penalties.

 

 

Ceballos missed his kick as Jones stepped and hit the ball towards the left post to send Liverpool into the quarterfinals.