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Midfielder Joe Allen was the penalty shoot-out hero as his spot-kick sent Liverpool to Wembley after a tense Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield.
The second-half substitute, who had scored in his previous two midweek outings, slotted home after much-maligned goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved Stoke defender Marc Muniesa's effort in sudden death.
There was some irony the decisive moment was produced by one of the smallest players on the pitch in a match which manager Jurgen Klopp had predicted just before kick-off would be "a heading festival".
The ball certainly saw some air time but four shots on target in 120 minutes underlined the lack of quality in the game and penalties were almost inevitable from the moment Marko Arnautovic struck a controversial offside goal in the first half.
So did anyone in particular impress? We take a look...
Show all 24 1 /24Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings LIVERPOOL: Mignolet: 6 out of 10 Couldn't do much about the opening goal but flapped at a ball he could have easily caught and continued to look a liability at corners. Redeemed himself with a couple of saves in the shoot-out.
PHIL NOBLE
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Flanagan: 6 out of 10 Won his battle with Arnautovic during the first half and showed his crossing ability when he got further forward. But considering this was his first start in 20 months, it was unsurprising he looked tired as it went on. Booked.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Toure: 6 out of 10 Did enough to put Walters off when the striker was looking dangerous and was generally solid. Went off late on.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Sakho: 5 out of 10 Allowed the ball to bounce and with it caused chaos at the back. However his vital block saved Liverpool from conceding to a Walters effort. At the other end of the pitch the Frenchman headed into the ground when perhaps he should have done better.
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Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Moreno: 5 out of 10 Used his pace to pose questions of the Stoke defence from deep but his delivery was not always up to scratch.
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Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Lucas: 5 out of 10 Unable to find a way through in the final third and was untidy at times in midfield before being moved back into central defence to fill in for Toure.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Jordan Henderson
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Milner: 6 out of 10 Didn't always make the right calls, particularly when he passed when perhaps he should have shot at goal. Tireless as always.
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Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Can: 5 out of 10 His shot from range was about as close as Liverpool came in the first period. He also went on some decent runs but not his more effective match.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Lallana: 4 out of 10 A bit like Firmino, a frustrating game for Lallana that lacked openings despite him playing in an advances position.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Firmino: 4 out of 10 Busy performance but few chances for the in-form Brazilian. He saw a shot hit the post whilst another effort from range when he should have passed showed his frustration.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Best off the bench - Joe Allen: 6 out of 10 After coming on Allen did little but show his touch can let him down. Then he scored the penalty that sent Liverpool to Wembley - worth two points alone.
Reuters
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings STOKE CITY: Butland: 5 out of 10 Had little to do during the match but when it came to the penalties was unable to outshine his opposite number.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Johnson: 6 out of 10 Up against his former club the right-back was tidy throughout although failed to get forward as much as he would have liked.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Wollscheid: 7 out of 10 Aside from a loose pass out from the back the Stoke defender did a fine job in the absence of captain Ryan Shawcross, notably blocking a shot from Firmino and making a last ditch clearance when Liverpool looked like they might be in.
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Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Muniesa: 7 out of 10 Took a booking for tripping Milner in the first half but despite being on a yellow continued to make the necessary challenges. Can't be blamed for missing one of Stoke's penalties.
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Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Pieters: 6 out of 10 Showed his ability to put in a fine delivery with a free-kick from the left and was part of Stoke's solid quartet at the back.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Whelan: 6 out of 10 In there with the tackles, not so much with the ability. However his penalty was the best of an excellent bunch.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Walters: 6 out of 10 The best chances for Stoke fell to Walters but he was unable to convert them, with one close range effort being blocked b Sakho and another creeping just wide.
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Afellay: 5 out of 10 Was twice wayward with shots from range when perhaps should have got closer to goal.
2015 Getty Images
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Bojan: 6 out of 10 Gave it away too easily at times but showed some lovely touches. Replaced with Charlie Adam after 71 minutes.
2016 Getty Images
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Arnautovic: 7 out of 10 Kept relatively quiet by Flanagan up until he broke the deadlock late in the first half - however his goal should have been ruled offside.
PHIL NOBLE
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Crouch: 7 out of 10 As always, the striker used his height to his advantage and caused Liverpool problems throughout.
PA Wire
Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 player ratings Best off the bench - Shaqiri: 5 out of 10 Came on for Arnautovic but failed to provide as much of a threat as the man he replaced.
Getty Images
Do you agree with our ratings? Who was your man of the match? Let us know in the comments below.
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