Liverpool 0-0 Derby (3–2p): On Wednesday evening, Liverpool defeated Derby County on penalties in the League Cup. Caoimhn Kelleher, the goalkeeper, became the star of the game at Anfield. Three penalties were saved by him.
Trainer Jürgen Klopp decided to rest his regular starting lineup on Wednesday. Only the foursome was chosen from the fixed match option. Joe Gomez, Fabio Carvalho, Kostas Tsimikas, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made their debuts. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all been given time off. Starting on the bench were Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nez, and Harvey Elliot.
Liverpool won the tournament last year. It all started against Championship opponent Derby County, with Bobby Clark, Melkamu Frauendorf, Layton Stewart, and Stefan Bajcetic in the starting lineup. The game got off to a poor start as a result of this. Derby easily held their ground, despite Oxlade-miss. Chamberlain’s Stewart, making his first team debut, too had a chance but was unable to capitalise on a Carvalho cross.
The Reds decided to give it a little more gas in the second half. This gave Oxlade-Chamberlain another chance early on, but his attempt was saved by Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith. Following Stewart’s lead, Frauendorf had an opportunity to score his first goal at Anfield, but his header was cleared off the line.
Klopp had had enough after one hour. The coach brought Firmino, Elliot, and Nez off the bench to try to find an opening. Wildsmith, on the other hand, proved to be a significant impediment. The goalie saved another Oxlade-Chamberlain attempt then valiantly put himself in front of Elliot’s shot. Firmino’s header was also miraculously spun out of the goal.
Liverpool 0-0 Derby (3–2p): Three penalties were saved by Kelleher
Because the difference could not be forced, penalty kicks had to provide a solution. With it, Anfield’s hopes were put once more on goalkeeper Kelleher. Last year, the Irishman was the cup tournament’s hero, and he was able to distinguish himself once more. It was his colleague’s turn this time. Bajcetic’s first penalty was immediately blocked by Wildsmith. Kelleher quickly followed, exasperating Conor Hourihane.
Kelleher left immediately after that. The specialist also stopped Craig Forsyth’s penalty. Firmino, on the other hand, let him down with a high shot. The Brazilian so capped off a disastrous week in which he had previously withdrawn from consideration for Brazil’s World Cup squad. Nonetheless, Kelleher emerged as the hero. The Irishman also took a third penalty, and Liverpool made no mistake by hanging and strangling their way to the next round.
