Carabao Cup talking points: 'Scorpion' goal, festive frenzy and the last eight
There was a familiar feel to the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Preston North End 2-0 on Wednesday night to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Just as they had in the previous round, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi provided the goals for Jürgen Klopp’s side – which included a debut for Harvey Blair and first start for Tyler Morton – to emerge from a tricky encounter versus the Championship outfit with a place in the last eight.
Highlights: Preston 0-2 Liverpool
Here are five talking points from the evening…
Digging in at Deepdale
Liverpool’s fourth successive victory on the road in the space of 11 days had to be dug out rather differently to the previous three.
Where the Reds had been swashbuckling in chalking up convincing 5-0 wins at Watford and Manchester United either side of an exhilarating 3-2 result against Atletico Madrid, here they had to simply find a way.
Blocked out by the organised hosts in the first half, Klopp’s side also needed goalkeeper Adrian to make an exceptional reaction save from Sean Maguire – and Neco Williams to thwart the rebound by Ryan Ledson on the goalline – to prevent Preston from leading.
Clear chances remained at something of a premium for the visitors but two moments of quality after the break eventually put their name in the hat for the next round.
Minamino emulated his opener at Norwich City last month by smartly prodding Williams’ delivery across the box into the far corner, and Origi later brilliantly invented a hooked finish into the net with his heel to make it 2-0.
Job done.
Divock loves the League Cup
Origi’s improvised, impudent flick over the Preston ‘keeper six minutes from full-time was a worthy and memorable way to confirm victory for the Reds.
“Just Divock Origi,” said the boss of the goal. “Standing scorpion pose,” came James Milner’s description. The man himself gave a nonplussed chuckle.
It was also a strike that further extended Origi’s prolific record in the competition; the Belgian has now netted 11 times in his 15 League Cup appearances.
Only five players have ever scored more in this tournament than Origi in Liverpool history – the No.27 has moved level with Danny Murphy on that particular list.
He will have Steve McMahon (13 League Cup goals) in his sights when Klopp’s charges continue this season’s run in two months’ time.
A huge save from Adrian
With Alisson Becker rested and Caoimhin Kelleher ruled out, Adrian came back in to the Liverpool starting XI for the first time since February.
And the away side were hugely grateful to the Spaniard when, in the 28th minute, Preston turned over possession high up the pitch in a two-on-one situation.
Maguire looked certain to fire in as he received a square pass yards from goal – but Adrian reacted at rapid speed to bat the effort away with his right hand and deny the hosts an advantage.
A crucial intervention by the 34-year-old, who could celebrate a clean sheet on his return to action.
“I was not in doubt at all that Adrian would be in really top shape tonight because we see him every day in training,” said Klopp. “But in the game you still have to prove it and he did that tonight, it’s really nice.”
Another festive fixture
Liverpool’s advancement in the Carabao Cup means they can now look forward to 10 matches in three different competitions between December 1 and January 2.
A hectic period that is bookended by visits to Everton and Chelsea in the Premier League will involve the conclusion of their Champions League group at AC Milan and a last-eight tie in the League Cup.
The latter is scheduled to be played in the week commencing December 20 and will therefore be the Reds’ final outing before Christmas.
Progress to the semi-finals would not be a bad early gift.
Eight teams remain
Liverpool will be joined by six fellow Premier League teams and a League One club in the line-up for Saturday morning’s quarter-final draw.
Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United were the other top-flight sides to qualify across Tuesday and Wednesday’s fourth-round ties.
Completing the set are Sunderland, who bettered Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw this week.