Liverpool made hard work of Stoke City, but managed to crawl over the line into the Capital One Cup Final/
Marko Arnautovic scored the only goal of the game in normal time, cancelling out Jordon Ibe’s first-leg winner to take the game into extra time.
And Simon Mignolet, much maligned by Liverpool fans of late, was the hero with two saves to see his team through 6-5 on penalties.
Fair play to Mignolet there, he's sent us to Wembley. Along with Joe Allen. Poor on the night, but we've reached the League Cup final
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) January 26, 2016
Before the game, the main talking point was the return of Jon Flanagan to the Liverpool starting line-up for the first time since May 2014.
https://twitter.com/Fresh_Liverpool/status/692058284497473536
The first half was well-balanced, with neither side showing the defensive frailty that characterised their most recent league outings.
It looked for all the world like it would be 0-0 at the break, only for Arnautovic to tap home unmarked from close range. But was he onside?
*Looks up offside rule* #LFC pic.twitter.com/XZKwfJcKeV
— Hari Sethi (@Hari_Sethi) January 26, 2016
It didn’t improve all that much for the hosts after the break, and even more worryingly it looked like they had very little to offer.
https://twitter.com/horatiomo/status/692089444124467200
Even their recent supersub wasn’t available.
Isn't it about time Caulker came on up front?
— Doc (@Doc_Joshi) January 26, 2016
With no more goals in the second period, the game entered extra-time.
Charlie Adam had entered towards the end of normal time, but picked up an injury and was withdrawn by Mark Hughes.
https://twitter.com/_NickRogers_/status/692102269807005696
But his replacement Marco van Ginkel almost stunned Anfield, coming within a post’s width of a likely winner.
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/692104412009996288
That was as close as we got to another goal, though, and penalties it was.
Peter Crouch and Emre Can traded misses early on.
I reckon I'd have 40,000 men, women & children line up to take a penalty before Peter Crouch, if my life depended on a goal.
— lewis (@lewinick) January 26, 2016
Peter Crouch is so starved for goals, he briefly contemplated knocking in the rebound before realizing
— James Tyler (still) (@JamesTylerESPN) January 26, 2016
It was perfect from that point on. Until Marc Muniesa stepped up, that is.
Imagine losing a penalty shoot-out to a side with Simon Mignolet in goal.
— Chris (@chrs00) January 26, 2016
So it was left to the Welsh Pirlo himself, Joe Allen, to seal the deal. Was it ever in doubt?
My hero. My mate. pic.twitter.com/WG5UpIxkIH
— Kristian (@vonstrenginho) January 26, 2016
Liverpool will meet Man City or Everton in the final, but they’ll have to be much better to earn Jurgen Klopp his first trophy.
