Published 15:00 IST, October 31st 2019
Carabao Cup: Relive Liverpool's thrilling 5-5 draw against Arsenal
Liverpool and Arsenal played out one of the most exhilarating games in the history of the Carabao Cup as the two sides battled it out to a 5-5 draw at Anfield.
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"Cause this is thriller. Thriller night!" - These are some of the lyrics from Michael Jackson's 2008 hit album 'Thriller'. As Liverpool played out a 5-5 draw against Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, MJ's words seem the perfect fit to describe the night. A 5-5 draw at Anfield meant that the result of the game would depend on the penalty shootout that followed. It turned out to be a test of nerves, as Liverpool emerged victorious 5-4 after their 18-year old midfielder Curtis Jones netted the winning penalty to send the European champions through to the quarter-finals.
Shkodran Mustafi began proceedings when he netted an own goal in the sixth minute. The much-maligned defender turned in a cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to put Liverpool ahead very early in the game. Their lead, however, lasted just 13 minutes. Lucas Torreira was on hand to dispatch the rebound from Bukayo Saka's effort to equalise for the Gunners. Seven minutes later, Arsenal's in-form striker Gabriel Martinelli decided to come to the fore.
Carabao Cup: Martinelli once again impresses for the Gunners
Martinelli, who signed for Arsenal in the summer, chose to replicate Torreira's equaliser to dispatch another rebound from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher's save. 10 minutes later, the 18-year old Brazilian doubled Arsenal's lead when he comfortably finished from Bukayo Saka's cross. In an exciting first 45 minutes, James Milner had the last say in the first half. Liverpool's 16-year old sensation Harvey Elliott was brought down in the box by Martinelli. Liverpool's 'Mr Dependable' James Milner stepped up to score from the resulting penalty to cut Arsenal's lead to one goal, as the score ended at 3-2 in the first half in Arsenal's favour.
In the second half, Milner's mistake led to Ainsley Maitland-Niles capitalising on the error when he lashed on to a loose backpass from Milner. Maitland-Niles raced too far ahead with the ball, but Mesut Ozil contributed a delightful backheel to set the youngster up and register Arsenal's fourth of the night. Four minutes later, the Anfield faithful were treated to a typical Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goal. The former Arsenal midfielder rifled a strike on the half-volley to leave Emiliano Martinez with no chance of saving his stunner of a goal - the third goal for Liverpool and arguably Chamberlain's finest.
However, Divock Origi joined the party soon after a sharp turn and a strike as Liverpool levelled with the Gunners. If Liverpool's third and fourth goals were stunners, Arsenal's Joe Willock decided to score his own even better. The Arsenal youngster surged through the middle and let one fly at the Liverpool goal. His effort nestled beautifully in the corner of Liverpool's goal to put Arsenal 5-4 up in the game. But Origi was not done. The Belgian latched on to an impressive ball from his right-back Neco Williams to score from an acrobatic effort to net Liverpool's final equaliser of the night. Truly a night for stunning goals, this fixture will no doubt go on to become one of the most memorable games in the history of the Carabao Cup.
13:47 IST, October 31st 2019