Tuesday 26 January 2016 23:53, UK
Joe Allen struck the winning spot-kick as Liverpool booked their place in the Capital One Cup final with a penalty shootout win over Stoke City at Anfield.
The visitors trailed 1-0 from the first leg but they brought the tie level when Marko Arnautovic dispatched Bojan Krkic's cross in first-half stoppage time - despite appearing to be offside.
Roberto Firmino and Stoke substitute Marco van Ginkel both hit the woodwork after that, but the tie was eventually settled on penalties, with Simon Mignolet saving Marc Muniesa's effort in sudden death before Allen hit the winner.
Here, we round up the talking points from the game as Jurgen Klopp's men gear up for Wembley…
Liverpool's unlikely heroes
Mignolet's performances have been fiercely criticised this season and his new long-term contract was greeted with widespread head scratching last week. But the Belgian goalkeeper enjoyed a night to remember at Anfield as his penalty saves from Peter Crouch and Muniesa proved decisive.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher insisted Mignolet still has plenty to prove as Liverpool's No 1, but hopes the 27-year-old will take confidence from his shootout heroics. "You don't become a great goalkeeper because of a penalty shoot-out," Carragher said. "He's got a lot more to do in his Liverpool career, but I imagine that should give him a massive lift."
Allen, meanwhile, was not called from the bench until the 85th minute at Anfield and revealed he wasn't even certain to take the seventh penalty. But his winning spot-kick came after he "brought some calmness to the team", in the words of Carragher, and it was another example that he still has something to offer this team.
Cup lift for Klopp
After his semi-final successes with Borussia Dortmund, this win made it a fifth consecutive season in which Klopp has taken his side to a cup final. It gives him an early opportunity to bring silverware to the club - something his predecessor Brendan Rodgers never managed.
"This is a massive result," said Carragher. "I wouldn't say this saves Liverpool's season, as they are still in two other cup competitions, but they were already in the semi-final of the League Cup so they've got more chance of winning this. This season is more like a learning curve for the manager so if he can get a trophy in that time it's massive, as no one can ever say he hasn't won a trophy."
No shame in Stoke defeat
While Liverpool's ecstatic players celebrated reaching their first cup final since 2012, Stoke were left to rue a missed opportunity to end their long wait for silverware. The Potters were fortunate that Arnautovic's goal was not ruled out for offside, but that should take nothing away from their impressive performance.
Mark Hughes' men showed their varying strengths. Crouch was given the nod up front to exploit Liverpool's aerial vulnerabilities, but Stoke were equally threatening with the ball on the floor. The Potters may have been long-ball merchants in the past, but some of the interplay between the likes of Bojan and Arnautovic was another reminder of just how far they have come.
Flanagan's return
Jon Flanagan's last start for Liverpool was a 2-1 win over Newcastle in May 2014, when he was joined in their XI by Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling, not to mention Glen Johnson, who lined up on the opposite side as he returned against Stoke 625 days later. To Liverpool's local lad, the wait must have felt like an eternity.
His return was a welcome one for supporters, too. The full-back was warmly applauded as he flew into challenges and embraced his physical battle with Arnautovic in the early stages. His tiredness showed with a couple of late tackles before his extra-time substitution, but it was fitting that Klopp pointed the cameras in the direction of Liverpool's much-loved No 38 after the final whistle.
Merseyside final?
Klopp has described going to Wembley as "the best thing you can do in football", and the occasion will be even more special if they are joined in the final by Merseyside rivals Everton. The Toffees take a 2-1 lead into their second leg clash with Manchester City on Wednesday night, and the Reds will be awaiting the outcome with intrigue.
An Everton victory would set up the first Merseyside cup final since 1989, when Liverpool famously beat their old rivals 3-2 at the old Wembley to lift the FA Cup. How the Reds would love a repeat of that day now...
