League Two Carlisle United travelled to Anfield in the third round of the League Cup tonight hoping to cause an upset against eight-time winners Liverpool.
The game seemed to be going to script when Danny Ings headed Liverpool into the lead, but Carlisle soon equalised through Derek Asamoah.
Carlisle took Liverpool to extra time and despite the hosts having 47 attempts across 120 minutes of football, they were taken to penalties.
Liverpool debutant Adam Bogdan spared Liverpool's blushes by saving three spot kicks to ensure the Reds progressed to the fourth round.
Read how it all unfolded in our live minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Hello and thanks for joining me for tonight's game from Anfield. It's going to be a battle of David vs. Goliath, as League Two Carlisle travel south to take on five-time European Cup winners Liverpool, but could we have an upset on our hands?
Before tackling questions such as those, let's take a look at the breaking team news...
LIVERPOOL: Bogdan; Can, Skrtel, Lovren; Clyne, Milner, Allen, Moreno; Lallana, Firmino; Ings
Subs: Fulton, Coutinho, Gomez, Origi, Brannagan, Ibe, Rossiter
Subs: Fulton, Coutinho, Gomez, Origi, Brannagan, Ibe, Rossiter
CARLISLE UNITED: Gillespie; Miller, Raynes, Grainger, McQueen; Kennedy, Dicker, Joyce, Sweeney; Hery, Asamoah
Subs: Hanford, Atkinson, Ibehre, Gilliead, Balanta, Archibald-Henville, Gillesphey
Subs: Hanford, Atkinson, Ibehre, Gilliead, Balanta, Archibald-Henville, Gillesphey
Six changes in total for Liverpool, then. Perhaps a little surprisnigly, none of the club's youngsters are in the starting XI, although a few of them have been named among the substitutes. Adam Bogdan starts his first game for the club, while Dejan Lovren returns to defence. The midfield contains three of the same four who started Sunday's 1-1 draw with Norwich, although Joe Allen returns from injury to line up in midfield. Sunday's goalscorer, Danny Ings, is tasked with leading the line, and he'll be supported by Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino.
The big news for the visitors is that their top goalscorer Jabo Ibehre only makes the bench. He's already netted 10 goals this season!
Carlisle boss Keith Curle has made three changes in total - Derek Asamoah is the man with the onus of replacing Jabo Ibehre's goals, while Bastien Hery comes into the midfield in place of Alex Gilliead and Alexander McQueen replaces Troy Archibald-Henville.
A strange decision to not play Jabo Ibhere, who has been in fine form this season.
I'm slightly surprised by the starting XI Brendan Rodgers has selected this evening, too. I thought he may have rested a few more first-team players, but he's without a win in his last five matches and clearly wants to put that poor record to bed.
Here are the Carlisle players arriving at a rather damp Anfield:
VINE: The lads arrive at Anfield #cufc https://t.co/oJ2p9dIhox
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) September 23, 2015
So, there's another chance for Danny Ings to shine this evening. The 23-year-old was impressive after coming on as a second-half substitute on Sunday, scoring three minutes after his introduction. He may well find himself playing more minutes in the coming weeks too, with reports suggesting that Christian Benteke could miss Saturday's game against former side Aston Villa.
A reminder that tonight's game is an 8pm kick off. Most other League Cup ties are kicking off a little earlier, but not this one! We'll also go all the way to penalties if we have to. The tie must be decided tonight!
Liverpool are the League Cup's most successful side, having won the trophy eight times. Unfortunately, Carlisle have never lifted the cup, but they'll celebrate as though they have if they get a win tonight!
Brendan Rodgers really could do with a win tonight. His side are without a victory in their last five matches and reports have been circulating that the club's owners, FSG, have been in touch with Carlo Ancelotti.
Talking of Liverpool, former centre-forward ace Iago Aspas has just put Celta Vigo 2-0 ahead against Barcelona. Not much of that on show during his ill-fated Anfield career.
Adam Bogdan will be pleased to get his first start in a Liverpool shirt tonight. The Ed Sheeran look-a-like recently said that he's not happy with merely being a squad player.
While Liverpool are struggling, Carlisle have only lost twice this season. In fact, they've only been on the losing side in one league game so far and lie tenth in League Two.
However, their most impressive result of the season came in the last round of the League Cup, when they knocked out Championship side QPR with a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road. Can they repeat the trick again tonight, I wonder?
What's more, Carlisle are unbeaten in their last three matches and have won four of their last six in all competitions. They're not shy of a goal or two (or three), either. They've only failed to find the back of the net once this season and have netted three times in three separate games this season. They even notched four in a 4-4 draw with Cambridge United! Wowsers!
Well, most of tonight's games are already underway now. Just ourselves and the folks at Old Trafford waiting now.
A couple of quick results from the Rugby World Cup today. Earlier, Scotland won 45-10 against everyone's second-favorutie nation Japan, while Australia laboured to a 28-10 victory against Fiji.
Back to Anfield, though and we're just 10 minutes away from kick off now!
That means there's just about time for me to make a prediction. Liverpool have found goals tough to come by so far, but I think they'll record a comfortable 2-0 win tonight.
Here we go, almost time!
KICKOFF: We're underway at Anfield. Can Carlisle upset the Reds tonight?
A positive start by Liverpool, as Firmino feeds Lallana, who strikes towards goal from the edge of the area but the shot sails wide.
CLOSE! Firmino's again involved, as he flashes a left-footed shot narrowly wide. A good start by the Brazilian!
Grainger's standing over a free kick on the halfway line for the visitors as they get their foot on the ball.
Grainger's again involved, as he picks out Miller with a pass, but the Carlisle man is flagged for offside.
Moreno's the next player to have a pop, but Gillespie easily gathers.
SAVE! The first real save Gillespie's had to make, as he pushes Ings's strike away!
Liverpool have lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Lallana and Firmino tucking in just behind the lone striker Ings.
Ings fires another shot towards goal, which Gillespie parries away. Milner is first to the rebound, but he can only head over the bar.
Liverpool with the first corner of the game.... but it's cleared by Carlisle.
Carlisle are playing the ball out of defence to the backdrop of "ole's" from the travelling support. Calm play by the League Two side.
Grainger swings in a deep cross from the left wing and McQueen is close to poking it home at the far post. Loren lost his man there.
Firmino is back on the pitch after leaving the field to receive treatment... and his first touch is atrocious as he gifts Carlisle the ball back.
SHOT! Milner bursts forward from midfield and plays a square ball to Ings on the edge of the box, but he scuffs it into the floor and it bobbles behind for a goal kick. He'll be frustrated with that.
Milner clatters into the back of Joyce as the Carlisle captain headed the ball clear. There was no need to make the challenge, as the visitors were under pressure, but that's given them a chance to regroup.
It must be said, it's a decent atmosphere inside Anfield tonight. Both sets of fans contributing to that.
Another shot for Ings, who steps inside and fires wide, but it took a slight nick on the way it, so it will be a Liverpool corner. Carlisle got caught trying to play the ball out of defence there. There approach has to be applauded but they'll have to be careful.
Well, well, well. Milner chips the ball back to Moreno from the corner, which allows Carlisle to push out of defence and the full-back is forced to play the ball all the way back to Bogdan. Bizarre routine.
GOAL! (Danny Ings) Liverpool 1-0 Carlisle United
It's there! Just as he did at the weekend, Ings breaks the deadlock! The forward showed his poacher's instincts to meet Lallana's cross and head home from close range. The crowd are singing his name now - he's going the right way to making himself an Anfield favourite!
Lovren leaps high to connect with Milner's deep cross, but it loops onto the roof of the net. Gillespie was never worried.
Liverpool are penning Carlisle inside their own half at the moment. A second goal this early might even kill this game.
Firmino fires his third shot of the evening towards goal, but his 30-yard effort flies into the Anfield Road stand. It's not quite happening for him so far.
CLOSE! Ings gets to Moreno's cross ahead of his marker and flashes a header narrowly wide of the far post. Good movement again from Ings.
CLOSE! Guess who? Ings again! He drives at the Carlisle defence and fires a powerful effort narrowly over the bar from 25 yards.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle United (Derek Asamoah)
My word! They're back in the game! They've barely had a sniff, but they're level now! Hery advanced towards the Liverpool defence before finding Asamoah, who coolly slotted past Bogdan at the Kop end!
SUBSTITUTION: Firmino hasn't been able to shake off the earlier injury and has been replaced by Origi.
Grainger has a shot at goal from 30 yards. It's nowhere near finding the back of the net, but it's indicative of Carlisle's confidence!
"Sacked in the morning" come the chants from the delirious Carlisle fans. This certainly won't help the pressure being piled on Rodgers.
Shouts for a penalty as Milner goes to ground inside the area, but the Carlisle defender clearly won the ball.
McQueen fires a dangerous cross into the area which Skrtel does well to clear. Liverpool haven't looked comfortable since conceding.
Liverpool knock the ball around with no intent for a while until Can gets fed up and blasts a 30-yard shot wide of the far post. A bit of immaturity there from the German.
ONE MINUTE OF ADDDED TIME
Origi gets his first shot of the night away, but it's held by Gillespie.
HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle United
Hands up who saw this coming? No-one? Thought not! Liverpool looked to be n course for a comfortable victory after Danny Ings gave them the lead, but Derek Asamoah has drawn Carlisle level and they've been impressive so far. The goal has given them tons of confidence - rightly so - and their fans are certainly the loudest at the moment!
Not many goals to tell you about in the other games tonight. Most have come at MK Dons, where Southampton lead 3-0. Manchester United are 1-0 up on Ipswich Town, while Mathieu Flamini has given Arsenal a 1-0 lead at Spurs. Meanwhile, Chelsea are 2-1 ahead at Walsall.
Oh, I forgot to bring you an Iago Aspas update... Well, he only went and scored again! Against Barcelona! That's right, an Iago Aspas brace helped Celta Vigo to a 4-1 victory over European champions Barcelona!
Can Carlisle continue to frustrate Liverpool? We'll soon find out as the teams are back out on the pitch.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. Another half like that from Carlisle and they'll be delighted!
A long throw-in from Carlisle, but Skrtel heads clear.
Asamoah beats Lovren to the ball down the left wing and wins a throw in off the Croatian. Another long throw on its way...
... but Bogdan claims it with ease.
Can strides forward from centre-back, skips inside one challenge and fires towards goal, but it's blocked.
Ings wins a corner off Grainger.
PENALTY APPEAL! Origi surges into the box and goes down under a challenge, but the referee is disinterested as Sweeney bundles into the back of the Belgian.
SAVE! Origi stands his defender up, drops a shoulder and steps inside onto his left foot. He fires a shot at Gillespie, who pushes it away with strong hands.
Skrtel's the next player to chance his arm. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you it's wayward. Quite why the Liverpool centre-back decided to shoot from 35 yards, only he'll know.
CLOSE! Ings again showing he's Liverpool's most dangerous player. He fires into the side netting, but had to wait as the pass was a little behind him.
Dear oh dear. Origi shins an effort miles wide. It was good approach play, as Ings headed to Milner, who teed up Origi 12 yards out, but the youngster looked a little surprised and wasn't set for the shot.
Can is striding forward again from the back and his deflected shot goes behind for a corner.
Skrtel gets underneath Milner's corner and his header is wayward. He retrieves the loose ball, but Liverpool can't work an opening.
Origi with another effort, but it's a tame header which Gillespie gathers easily.
That just about sums up Liverpool's night. Ings has the ball in the area, but three poor passes in succession forces Can back to the halfway line.
A sign of Liverpool's frustration, as Origi tracks Miller back into his own half but brings down the Carlisle man. The away fans are loving this!
Wow. Origi sets Moreno free down the left flank, but the Spaniard's cross is smashed high across goal and cannons into the stand on the far side.
Lallana screams an obscenity in the direction of Milner, who overhits a pass. The Liverpool captain has been poor this evening.
Lallana takes matters into his own hands and flashes a low cross across the face of goal from the left wing, but no-one is there to apply the finishing touch.
SUBSTITUTION: A double change for the visitors. Their top goalscorer, Ibhere, replaces the man who has netted tonight, Asamoah. Gillead also replaces Sweeney. Liverpool have turned to Coutinho, who comes on for Allen.
Coutinho's first involvement draws a corner. The ball dropped inside the Carlisle box and the Brazilian's snapshot flicked off a Carlisle defender.
Kennedy forces Lovren into clearing for a throw in. We know what's coming...
Raynes flicked on the throw and Ibhere's shot was blocked by a mass of Liverpool bodies. It nearly worked!
Clyne skips down the right wing and wins a corner from his cross.
Lovren mistimed his jump from the corner and although the ball came out to Moreno, he skied his shot into the Kop.
SHOT! Lallana's Cruyff turn on the edge of the area creates some space, but his left-footed drive is held by Gillespie.
Coutinho has a couple of chances to test Gillespie. His first effort is saved by the goalkeeper, but he's stretching for the subsequent strike, which floats over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Gillesphey comes on for Kennedy, making his senior debut in the process. Not a bad first game!
Gilliead comes out of defence with the ball, but tries to go round one too many and ends up conceding a throw in.
Coutinho again tries a long-range effort, bending his shot towards goal, but Gillespie was never concerned. There are 15 minutes to find a winner.
Carlisle come forward, but a poor cross is easily cleared and Liverpool counter... Ings wins a corner.
CLOSE! Milner's initial corner is shocking, but he gets a second bite at the cherry as the ball is fed back to him. He skips inside two challenges before seeing his low shot graze the outside of the post. It took a deflection on its way out and it'll be another Liverpool corner.
Nothing comes of it though, and Carlisle now have a corner of their own.
Joyce thunders into a challenge with Can and wins the ball. That's got the Carlisle fans cheering even louder!
CHANCE! Coutinho clips a wonderful pass over the top of the Carlisle defence to find Lallana, but the England international snatches at the volley and it bobbles off his shin and rolls wide.
Coutinho's at the centre of things again, flashing a low centre across the face of goal, but no-one gambled at the far post.
CLOSE! If Liverpool are going to find a winner, it's likely to come from Coutinho. In trademark fashion, he bends a 25-yard shot towards the far post with his right shot, but it drops just the wrong side of the upright.
Can had to be alert to head away a deep cross with Ibhere lurking on his shoulder. It was a tap-in for the Carlisle man had Can not intervened!
CHANCE! Somehow the corner comes all the way across the box, but no-one is there to apply to finishing touch!
SUBSTITUTION: Clyne makes way for Ibe as Rodgers rolls his final throw of the dice.
Coutinho almost sneaks Moreno in with a through ball, but it's just too heavy for the wing-back.
Two minutes left. As things stand, we're heading for extra time!
Joyce resorts to playing the ball into the right channel, but there's no-one there and Liverpool come again.
CLOSE! It's a case of deja vu. Coutinho with an identical effort to his earlier shot from 25 yards. Once again, it sneaks to wrong side of the post.
THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
BOOKING! Origi goes into the book for catching Grainger. I'll be lenient and say it was "a forward's tackle".
Surprise, surprise. It's Coutinho again, but this shot flies miles wide. He looks incredibly frustrated and understandably so.
END OF 90 MINUTES: We're going to extra time!
They've held on! Carlisle have another 30 minutes to see out, but they've taken Liverpool to extra time at Anfield. A magnificent display so far by the Cumbrians and their fans are bouncing!
Keith Curle is rallying his troops on the pitch. Do they have anything else to give? It's sure to have been a physically and mentally draining 90 minutes, but they may just be able to squeeze a little more out of the tank.
Both sides have already made all three substitutions, so there'll be no more fresh faces. This could now come down to which side is the fittest.
KICKOFF: Carlisle get us underway for the first period of extra time.
Liverpool's tactics seem to simply be: 'Give it to Coutinho'. It may well work, but surely Liverpool have got something else up their sleeve?
Can's low cross is pushed away by Gillespie, but no-one was on hand to poke the loose ball home.
Origi sees his shot deflected behind for a corner. It came from sloppy passing out of the back from Carlisle. Perhaps a sign of mental fatigue?
"Ole's" coming again from the Carlisle crowd. The home supporters soon get frustrated and roar at their side to go and win the ball back.
SAVE! There's the chance for Ibhere, who skipped inbetween Skrtel and Can before firing a shot towards goal, but Bogdan stood tall and held onto the shot.
CLOSE! Ooooh, so close! Milner's shot from the edge of the box looks set to nestle in the bottom corner until Dicker's outstretched leg prevents the midfielder from finding the back of the net. Origi's follow-up attempt is deflected over.
UPDATE: The winner of this game will face Bournemouth at home in the next round.
We're almost at half time. This game is getting away from Liverpool now. Carlisle will surely be happy with penalties?
HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle United
A chorus of boos rings around Anfield, and who can blame the supporters? Liverpool are being held - and relatively comfortably, it must be said - by League Two Carlisle.
KICKOFF: 15 minutes remain before we go to penalties. Can Liverpool find a way to win? Or is there one last surprise from Carlisle...?
Origi's shot is blocked (I've written that a fair few times tonight) and it's another Liverpool corner.
CHANCE! Lovren sends a header towards goal, but he directs it a few yards wide of goal.
Ings races onto a through ball, but skies his shot over the bar when one-on-one with Gillespie. That might have been the chance to win it!
Rodgers is currently sat in the Liverpool dugout looking utterly dejected.
Milner seems to be hobbling around the pitch. Liverpool have already made all three substitutions, so they'll go down to 10 men if he leaves the pitch.
CLOSE! Can picks up the ball on the edge of the box, but his drive flies inches over the bar. It looks like we're going to penalties!
Gillespie is furious that a corner has been given after he smothers the ball at the feet of Moreno.
Lovren is now down getting treatment inside the Carlisle area. He may well be leaving the pitch shortly.
The Liverpool medical staff have now called the stretcher onto the pitch. This doesn't look good for Lovren.
FOUR MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
Lovren's injury has added another four minutes on to the end of this game. The crowd are applauding as Lovren leaves on a stretcher with an oxygen mask to his face. That looks serious.
Ibe gets to the byline and his cross is put behind for a corner... again. Milner will take it.
Coutinho sends another wayward shot into the Kop and wastes another few seconds in the process.
CLOSE! Oh my word! Gilliead almost wins it for Carlisle with an audacious effort from miles out, but it bounces a couple of yards wide! Marvellous attempt!
FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle
Penalties it is! Whatever happens from here, Carlisle have been absolutely magnificent!
Liverpool have had 47 (FORTY-SEVEN!) shots in all tonight, but have found the back of the net just once!
AET #LFC 1-1 #CUFC: After 120 minutes we're heading to penalties. Liverpool with 47 shots but only one was converted. pic.twitter.com/vjiaErdY4T
— BBC Merseyside Sport (@bbcmerseysport) September 23, 2015
Tense times at Anfield. Who would have thought Carlisle would take Liverpool to penalties? The Reds were here this tie last year, when they beat Middlesbrough in the shootout. It took 30 penalties all in all last time!
The penalties are taking place at the opposite end to the Kop.
Milner is up first. Can the Liverpool captain score?
Milner scores!
Bogdan saves Grainger's spot-kick! Advantage Liverpool!
Can cheekily ships his penalty into the net. 2-0 to Liverpool!
Dicker just squeezes his penalty past Bogdan. That was close! 2-1 to Liverpool after two penalties each.
Lallana's penalty is saved by Gillespie! Drama!
But Bogdan comes to the rescue! He saves his second penalty of the night to deny Joyce!
But Gillepsie saves Coutinho's penalty too! Remarkable! Still 2-1 to Liverpool!
McQueen curls a brilliant penalty into the top corner to draw his side level! 2-2 after four penalties each.
Ings smashes his penalty down the middle to give Liverpool the advantage. 3-2 to Liverpool. Hery must score to keep his side in the game.
Bogdan saves AGAIN! Liverpool emerge triumphant... just!
FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle United (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties)
Heartbreak for Carlisle! They did not deserve to lose tonight. They had their fair share of luck, but they defended valiantly and restricted Liverpool to half-chances on the whole. Such a cruel way to lose, but they'll have won themselves many plaudits with tonight's performance.
Well, Liverpool have scraped through to the fourth-round of the League Cup, but they were so nearly embarrassed by League Two Carlisle United. The Reds are at home again in the next round, but will come up against Premier League opposition in the form of Bournemouth. Click here to read the full draw.
That's it from me. Thanks for staying with me right to the death for that remarkable drama from Anfield! Before I go, I'll leave you with Colm Hayes's succinct match report. Until next time!
Written by
Kristian Johnson
Kristian Johnson
