League Cup: Liverpool survive PK shootout; Chelsea, United roll
Liverpool were given a shock Wednesday night by fourth-tier Carlisle, with the Cumbrians taking the mighty Reds to extra time and penalty kicks at Anfield amid jeers from the Kop. Only a heroic performance in the shootout from Adam Bogdan kept the Reds in the tournament, with the keeper making three big saves to get Liverpool into the next round 1-1 (3-2) on kicks.
Elsewhere, Newcastle were knocked out by second-tier opposition while Liverpool struggled against fourth-tier Carlisle. Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Southampton all advanced to the round of 16.
At Anfield, Liverpool were unsettled pre-game by reports that the club has approached ex-Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti (a rumor the club denied). Rodgers has been under pressure following a series of disjointed and insipid performances in the league that had left the club without a win since mid-August. History also weighed, as Liverpool had famously come a cropper to a League Two side in this round: five years ago almost to the day, tiny Northampton ejected the Reds on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
History seemed ready for a repeat as Carlisle looked consistently better through the match, with the team sitting 65 places down in the table candidly making Brendan Rodgers’ men look silly. This was not a second-string Liverpool side, either, with eight regulars taking their places.
Danny Ings seemed to have the home side on the right path when he turned home a cross from Adam Lallana in the 23rd minutes, but Derek Asamoah’s goal just before the half flipped the script. After that, Carlisle were in the ascendance and when Dejan Lovren went down deep with what appeared to be a serious injury deep in extra time – reducing Liverpool to ten men – things looked grim for the home side indeed.
In the shootout, keeper Adam Bogdan saved three attempts, stopping Danny Grainger and Luke Joyce, but Mark Gillespie was equal to the feat, stopping Lallana and Philippe Coutinho. The final shot came to Bastien Henry for Carlisle, and Bogdan was able to keep his weak attempt out.
Elsewhere, Chelsea eased into the fourth round of the League Cup, putting third-tier Walsall to the sword 4-1 thanks to a man of the match show from Ramires.
Ramires scored up the first goal then set up one for Loic Remy to condemn the Saddlers to a third-round loss at Bescot Stadium. Kenedy and Pedro added late goals to ensure the Blues won their third straight match across all competitions and put them inot the draw for the final 16.
In truth, the result was rarely in doubt as Ramires needed only ten minutes to get Chelsea on top, heading home a cross from the left flank. Ramires then set up the game’s second, running at Wallsall’s back four before sliding the ball to Remy for an easy sidefoot. James O’Connor gave Chelsea a bit of a start when he scored just before the break for the Saddlers, putting home a sloppy goal after Asmir Begovic mishandled a free kick from Milan Lalkovic. But Kenedy restored Chelsea’s cushion after the break with Chelsea stealing the ball off a poor throw-in, then Pedro added punctuation in the final minute of regulation.
Manchester United also had an easy night, with Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira finding the back of the net to sink Ipswich 3-0. Rooney got an early goal with an easy left-footed finish against a dismal Tractor Boys back line before Pereira scored a blinder on the hour, whipping a free kick from 22 yards around the wall and in. Youngster Martial scored in stoppage to continue his fine start at United.
Southampton also enjoyed their day out in Milton Keynes, taking apart MK Dons 6-0. Saido Mane, Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long each scored twice in a game best described as “early and often.” Rodriguez scored after just six minutes, Mane scored ten minutes later, and MK Dons were never in the match.
Not so Newcastle, who were ousted at the hands of second-tier Sheffield Wednesday to deepen the gloom on Tyneside. Steve McClaren could only stand and watch as keeper Tim Krul made a hash of Lewis McGugan’s low shot in the 76th minute. It was the only goal of the game and it was enough for the Owls. Newcastle, who are next to last in the Premiership can perhaps only take solace in the fact that their schedule is now reduced – but it is unlikely their fans will see it that way.
Crystal Palace slotted four past Charlton Athletic with Dwight Gayle collecting a hat-trick to sink the Championship side 4-1. Gayle scored twice from the spot after a cagey first half at Selhurst Park. Naby Sarr pulled one back for the Addicks but Gayle would score twice more in short order to give Alan Pardew the win.
And Norwich saw off West Brom 3-0 thanks to goals from Matt Jarvis, Kyle Lafferty and an own goal from Seb Pocognoli. It was an unremarkable match that seemed to lose steam after Jarvis’ goal in the 62nd minute.
The fourth round will see Manchester City face Crystal Palace, Manchester United host Middlesbrough and Liverpool host Bournemouth. Everton will face Norwich, Southampton will host Aston Villa, and Sheffield Wednesday get a big home game against Arsenal. Stoke will host Chelsea and Hull face Leicester as the round concludes.