Bogdan: There's method in penalty madness
A modest Adam Bogdan was grateful for good fortune after his trio of penalty saves saw Liverpool overcome Carlisle United via a Capital One Cup shootout at Anfield.
The Reds were made to work hard by the visiting League Two outfit for the right to reach the fourth round and set up a home meeting with Bournemouth next month.
Danny Ings opened the scoring with a close-range header – his second strike in two games – but Derek Asamoah levelled by powering a finish inside the near post at the Kop end.
Both the second half and extra-time elapsed without any more goals, meaning the gauntlet of penalties, in front of the away supporters, was required to settle the contest.
But, on his competitive debut, Bogdan proved the man for the occasion by stopping three of Carlisle’s five spot-kicks and thereby helping Liverpool to a 3-2 success.
“There’s method in the madness,” the Hungarian later told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Sometimes you guess right, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t. I guessed the right way and got lucky with three shots. Thankfully we went through.
“I think we played well and did everything to win the game. On another day, our shots would go in and we would have had a more comfortable night.
“Of course, the main thing was to go through. We dominated the game all the way and they did really well to defend with bodies on the line, and their ‘keeper did really well.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t win the game in normal time but the main thing was that we went through and, for me, it’s going to be a memory I will never forget.
“It was fantastic. The fans were brilliant and the atmosphere is fantastic. It was a full house. It was an incredible night for me that I’m going to remember.”
The cup tie offered a first chance for Bogdan to pull on the Liverpool goalkeeper’s jersey since his summer arrival, having previously deputised for Simon Mignolet so far this season.
And the latter, though not part of the squad on the night, was in attendance to provide his support to the No.34 pre-match and words of praise following the final whistle.
Bogdan said: “He is fantastic. He came into the dressing room before and after the game and wished me well; I do the same to him every week.
“We know how hard this position is and we have full respect for each other and help each other when we work every day, and also encourage each other as well.”
The clash with Carlisle was the second of four successive fixtures at Anfield for the Reds, with Aston Villa the next opponent to visit, in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
“All the games are massive,” added the ‘keeper. “Every week in the Premier League there is no easy game.
“We can take positives out of this game. We have to concentrate on the next one, come in on Saturday, get the job done and win the game and move on.
“It’s not going to be easy – Villa are coming here on the back of a cup win as well. But we are at home and would like to win.”