Carabao Cup draw LIVE: Semi-final ties revealed as Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham join Arsenal
Follow the draw live at the conclusion of tonight’s three remaining quarter-final ties
Liverpool fought back against Leicester to win 5-4 on penalties and reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in incredible fashion.
Second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved two penalties in the shoot-out as Liverpool, joint record winners in the competition with eight, reached their 18th League Cup semi.
Substitute Diogo Jota struck the winning spot-kick - having come off the bench to score - but the real hero was Takumi Minamino who made it 3-3 with seconds remaining of six added minutes.
Tottenham boosted hopes of ending a 14-year trophy drought by edging out West Ham 2-1 to make the last four.
Spurs’ last silverware came in this competition in 2008 and Steven Bergwijn combined with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to fire them ahead after 29 minutes.
Tottenham’s lead only lasted three minutes as Eric Dier’s poor clearance gave Nikola Vlasic possession in a dangerous area. Vlasic’s shot fell to Jarrod Bowen whose brilliant control and drag back gave him the space to beat Dier and equalise with a low shot. Parity lasted just two minutes, however, as Lucas Moura netted the decisive goal for Spurs from Bergwijn’s pull-back.
Chelsea scored twice late on to beat west London neighbours Brentford 2-0.
Bees defender Pontus Jansson put through his own goal 10 minutes from time to give Chelsea the lead. The Blues secured safe passage into their first semi-final in the competition for three years five minutes later. Christian Pulisic was brought down by Alvaro Fernandez and substitute Jorginho tucked away the penalty with ease.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
74 mins: Marc Albrighton stays down after a late challenge from Konate but Liverpool play on and work the ball down the left wing. It eventually goes out for a throw in and Youri Tielemans squares up to James Milner for not kicking it out sooner so that Albrighton could get treatment.
Both players get a talking to from the referee but no further action is taken. Albrighton is okay to continue.
Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester
71 mins: If Liverpool score again and the match ends in a draw we’ll be headin straight to penalties. There is no extra time in the Carabao Cup. The Liverpool fans are very loud inside of Anfield now. It’s not going to be easy for Leicester to close out this game. Another corner for the Reds is played into Tsimikas he has a couple of shots blocked in the box and a scramble sees Leicester come away with the ball.
GOAL! Liverpool 2 - 3 Leicester (Jota, 68’) ⚽️
68 mins: Here we go! The ball is played up to Firmino who controls it well and spins away from Ndidi. He slots a pass into Minamino who taps the ball into the box for Diogo Jota to run onto. The forward breaks through the lines, collects the ball and then smokes it into the far side of the net! Great finish. This game is well and truly alive now.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
66 mins: Minamino shimmies around Albrighton before taking on Ndidi over on Liverpool’s left side. He wins a corner that gets swung into the penalty area and headed away by Jamie Vardy. Liverpool quickly flick the ball back into the box but Ndidi is there again to head it behind for a repeat.
The second Liverpool corner is whipped deeper into the box this time but Thomas has it covered for the Foxes.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
63 mins: Leicester have switched to a back three with those two substitutions, they are going to try and hold on to their lead. Luke Thomas switches the play with a diagonal pass over to Iheanacho who makes a bit of a mess of things trying to bring the ball under control and the attack dies down.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
60 mins: The game stops whilst Soyuncu receives some treatment. He injured himself when blocking Firmino’s effort. Jannik Vestegaard comes on to replace Soyuncu for Leicester. Ryan Bertrand also comes on in place of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Another change for Liverpool sees Naby Keita on for Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
59 mins: Brilliant from Soyuncu! Liverpool’s changes have changed the momentum of the game with the Reds firmly in the ascendancy. A poor goal kick from Schmeichel gives the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain who knocks it up to Minamino. He threads a short pass into the box for Firimino and he lets fly only to be denied by a sliding block from Soyuncu!
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
56 mins: James Milner swings a corner into the box and picks out Roberto Firmino. He gets a glancing head to the ball but sends it wide of the back post.
Kelechi Iheanacho is introduced by Brendan Rodgers, replacing Patson Daka who’s had a good night for the Foxes.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
54 mins: Save! Kelleher has just kept his team in the game! Dewsbury-Hall intercepts a pass in his own half and Gomez doesn’t manage to take it off him. The ball comes loose as the two players come together but Daka is the first man to it and he flicks it into the vacant space on the inside left. Dewsbury-Hall sprints away from Gomez, collects the ball and drives into the box. He shifts to the right away from Konate and guides a low effort to the far bottom corner only for Kelleher to leap across and push the ball wide of the post!
Liverpool 1 - 3 Leicester
51 mins: Milner fouls Daka as the Leicester striker wins an aerial ball. The Foxes are awarded a free kick that is slid into the left side of the box for Daka to chase down but he’s beaten to it by one of Liverpool’s defenders, Gomez I think, and the Reds work the ball out of the box.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments