Liverpool FC came out second best once again to Arsenal on a tense penalty shootout in the fourth round fixture of the EFL Cup between the two sides on Thursday.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
The Reds were largely in control of the game over the course of the 90 minutes at Anfield and still, the score turned out to be a goalless affair between the two clubs.
It was Jurgen Klopp’s side who came close to scoring on a number of occasions, with the most notable chance falling Takumi Minamino’s way, however, the 25-year old’s first-time effort on the ball could only rattle the crossbar.
Arsenal did get an easy chance themselves to take the lead against the Reds but it was Adrian this time who managed to keep his composure in a one-on-one situation with Eddie Nketiah to palm the ball away to safety.
The Gunner’s star man of the game was undoubtedly their goalkeeper Bernd Leno, with the German being a spectacular presence for Mikel Arteta’s side between the sticks during Thursday’s showdown between the two sides, the second meeting in a span of four days for both clubs after the Premier League clash from earlier this week.
Leno’s brilliant display of goalkeeping saw him save goalscoring attempts from Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota, and then a low driving effort from Marko Grujic. The Arsenal goalie was perhaps the only reason as to why the North London club were able to keep a clean sheet on their visit to Anfield, a first for them in as many as eight years.
With the scoreline 0-0, and no extra time allowed as per the rules of the EFL Cup, the game then proceeded to a penalty shootout.
James Milner commenced the proceedings, sending Leno the wrong way, and so did Minamino and Wijnaldum. Mohammad Elneny’s spot-kick attempt was saved by Adrian and it fell upon Divock Origi to convert his resulting effort to give his side an upper-hand.
However, the Belgian’s penalty was saved too, with Leno making a fantastic dive to deny Origi. Harry Wilson was also guilty of missing his attempt, and Willock converted to send his side to the quarter-finals of the cup tournament at the expense of the Reds.
