Man City beat Liverpool in dramatic shootout

Goalkeeper Willy Caballero was the hero for Manchester City saving three penalties in the shootout to win his side the League Cup.

Caballero turned away penalties from Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana to ensure a victory for City.

Fernandinho gave Manchester City the lead early in the second-half with a powerful shot that Simon Mignolet should have saved, but his blushes were spared when Philippe Coutinho equalised late on for Liverpool to send the game into extra-time.

Manuel Pellegrini had stuck with the same outfield that comprehensively saw off Dynamo Kiev in the week, but did swap Joe Hart for Caballero.

Manchester City were intent on easing their way into the game, something Liverpool wouldn’t allow, beginning at the highest tempo they could muster against a team who played in Ukraine in midweek, a concept which had worked in November at Eastlands. The front three of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho set out to test a defence that had spent much of the campaign crumbled at the first sight of pace.

Simon Mignolet was at fault for the Fernandinho goal. Credit: Reuters

The opening quarter saw few openings until Sergio Aguero the better of Lucas Leiva and a groggy Mamadou Sakho - who was taken off due to an earlier clash of heads sooner after – leaving the Argentine striker one-on-one with Simon Mignolet, but with the ball curling into the bottom corner, the Belgian managed to tip the ball onto the post to keep it goalless.

Sakho was withdrawn due to his head injury caused by a collision with Emre Can, and was inconsolable when he had to be replaced by Kolo Toure, showing what the game meant to the Frenchman.

After the break City stepped things up and quickly made their mark on the game as Aguero laid the ball into the path of Fernandinho who smashed the ball through Mignolet from an acute angle to give Pellegrini’s men the lead.

Two former City players combined for Liverpool in the 56th minute as Sturridge played through James Milner, but the midfielder could only find the side netting from close range.

Mamadou Sakho was withdrawn with a head injury. Credit: PA

Having suffered an our of booing from the Liverpool fans, Raheem Sterling had the chance to silence them when Silva laid a pass across the box only for an unmarked Sterling to coolly place the ball wide from eight yards.

Minutes later City broke away once more only for Aguero to be tripped in the box by Alberto Moreno. Despite the obvious foul referee Michael Oliver shook his head and gave nothing, a moment that summed up the official’s game.

Aguero tried a couple of efforts from just outside the area in quick succession to test the worried Belgian but Mingolet was equal to both low drives at goal.

When City should have been out of sight, Liverpool pounced. After the ball came out to Sturridge of the right-hand side his cross found its way to the back post and after substitute Adam Lallana had struck the post Coutinho got the ball in space and calmly slotted home first time.

Sergio Aguero should have had a penalty. Credit: Reuters

Even Mignolet redeemed himself with less than five minutes to go when a Gael Clichy cross landed at the feet of Fernando, but his jab at goal was spurned by the Liverpool goalkeeper.

It was end to end stuff in the closing stages as City came close to netting a last-minute winner only for Nicolas Otamendi to block Yaya Toure’s header from going in and then the rebound was somehow sent over the bar off Mignolet.

The opening period of extra-time passed by without incident until Aguero found himself the other side of the Liverpool defence on the brink of half-time only to be denied by a strong left wrist from Mignolet.

Liverpool’s first effort on target in extra-time arose when a Milner cross found Divock Origi but his header from six yards was met by the palms of Caballero.

Philippe Countinho got the Liverpool equaliser.Credit: Reuters

Yaya Toure could have seen red for a high challenge on Lallana, but was only cautioned after a melee on the pitch with less than five minutes to go.

Emre Can scored the first of the shootout with a cheeky chip, which was followed by Fernandinho hitting post. Cabllero chucked himself to the left to spurn Lucas Leiva and then Jesus Navas drew things levelled.

Coutinho then placed his penalty slowly to Caballero's left, allowing an easy save for the Argentine. His compatriot Aguero then calmly put the ball perfectly into the corner to put City 2-1 up in the shootout.

Substitute Lallana was the next to be repelled by Caballero, before Yaya Toure netted the winning spot kick.