After a scoreless stalemate after 90 minutes in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night at Anfield, Liverpool eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalties to advance.
Jurgen Klopp made many changes to his regular starting lineup for the Reds, including starting youngsters Stefan Bajcetic, Bobby Clark, and Melkamu Frauendorf.
Caoimhin Kelleher, a goalie for Liverpool, saved three penalty kicks in the shootout, helping the home team win 3-2 and advance.
While Klopp was frustrated by Liverpool’s inability to create openings, Derby appeared to be in good shape at halftime despite spending a huge portion of the first 45 minutes without the ball.
It was a back-and-forth second half, with both teams having good opportunities to take the lead. Max Bird nearly gave Derby a surprise lead just after the interval, and Rams goalkeeper Joseph Wildsmith had to make a diving save to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from scoring on a deflection.
Harvey Elliott was denied by Wildsmith in the final minutes, and Lewis Dobbin of Derby also had a chance in the waning seconds but couldn’t muster enough strength to defeat Kelleher.
There was no victor in the 90 minutes of play, thus penalties were required. Kelleher made saves from Conor Hourihane, Craig Forsyth, and the aforementioned Dobbin. Bajcetic’s penalty had been saved by Wildsmith, and Firmino had skied his.
However, both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Darwin Nunez scored, leaving Elliott as the deciding factor. A Look at Liverpool’s Star Performers
Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher (nine saves), running back: Calvin Ramsay (seven), center back: Nat Phillips (eight), center back: Joe Gomez (eight), linebacker: Kostas Tsimikas (seven), central midfielder: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (seven), center midfielder: Bobby Clark (six assists), center midfielder: Stefan Bajcetic (seven assists), right winger: (6)
Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, Roberto Firmino, and Darwin Nunez come on as subs in the sixth minute (6)Rankings of Derby Athletes
Goalkeeper: Joseph Wildsmith (nine), Running Back: Korey Smith (seven), Cornerback: Eiran Cashin (eight), Cornerback: Craig Forsyth (eight), Linebacker: Haydon Roberts (seven), Right Back: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (seven), Center Midfielder: Max Bird (seven), Center Midfielder: Conor Hourihane (seven), Left Midfielder: Louie Sibley (seven (6)
David McGoldrick (six), Lewis Dobbin (six), Liam Thompson (seven), Jason Knight (none), and Jake Rooney (none) are the substitutes.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Man of the Match (Liverpool)
