Liverpool v Leicester ratings: Gomez 4, Konate 8; Schmeichel 5, Vardy 7

Reds draw Arsenal in League Cup semi-finals after penalty shoot-out victory

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  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Caoimhin Kelleher - 7 The Irishman made a good stop from Daka but might have done better for Vardy’s opener. He rose to the challenge in the penalty shootout and made two huge saves. AFP

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  Conor Bradley - 4 The 18-year-old had a tough night and could have done with more support. His distribution was poor and although he had one shot on goal he was taken off at the break for Jota. EPA

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  Joe Gomez - 4 The centre back looked rusty. He gave away the ball before Daka’s early chance and later made a howler to allow Vardy in but was lucky the striker hit the post. Getty

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  Billy Koumetio - 5 The 19-year-old found it hard to keep track of Daka and his inexperience was obvious. He gave away the ball needlessly and did not reappear for the second half when Konate took his place. AFP

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  Kostas Tsimikas - 5 The Greek was wasteful on the ball but was involved in creating his team’s first goal. He was replaced by Beck with 10 minutes to go. PA

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  Tyler Morton - 4 The 19-year-old sat deep in the midfield but was frequently overrun. His tackling verged on rash and he was booked early on. Milner replaced him at half time. AP

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  Jordan Henderson - 4 The captain did not influence the game as he might have expected. Play bypassed him too often and he was withdrawn in the 59th minute for Keita. EPA

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  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 8 The 28-year-old ran at the defence and scored to start the comeback. He was dangerous throughout and tucked away his penalty in the shootout. Getty

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  Neco Williams - 6 The 20-year-old was a bit lost in an unfamiliar attacking position but headed back across the box in the lead up to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal. He was much more comfortable when switched to full back in the second period. AP

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  Roberto Firmino - 7 The Brazilian showed his composure in a crowded box when he set up Oxlade-Chamberlain to score. He looked sharp and finished the night with a cool, dancing run-up before slotting home his penalty. Getty

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  Takumi Minamino - 6 The Japanese provided a great ball for Jota’s goal and scored the late equaliser but was too often peripheral. His penalty in the shootout was poor. Getty

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  SUBS: Ibrahima Konate - 8 The Frenchman joined the action after the break for Koumetio and the defence was immeasurably better. He was calm on the ball and in the tackle. PA

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  Diogo Jota - 7 The Portuguese replaced Bradley at half-time and made a big impression. He caused the defence problems, scored the second goal and tucked away the game-winning penalty. PA

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  James Milner - 8 The 35-year-old came on for Morton at the break. He brought intelligence and toughness to the side and provided the cross for Minamino’s late equaliser. He sent Schmeichel the wrong way in the shootout. Getty

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  Naby Keita - 8 The Guinean entered the fray for Henderson in the 59th minute and set the tempo from then on. He gave the team extra thrust and scored with style in the shootout. EPA

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  Owen Beck - 6 The 19-year-old was given 10 minutes when Tsimikas came off. He was efficient and will benefit from the experience. Getty

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  LEICESTER RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel - 5 The Dane made some uncharacteristic mistakes alongside a handful of good saves. He needed to be big in the shootout but was outshone by Kelleher. EPA

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  Ricardo Pereira - 5 The Portuguese was already struggling with a hamstring injury when he was poleaxed by Morton. He was never comfortable afterwards and limped off in the 42nd minute and was replaced by Albrighton. EPA

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  Wilfred Ndidi - 5 The Nigerian made a fine last-gasp tackle to deny Firmino but found things more difficult as the game went on. He was caught under the ball for the late equaliser. PA

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  Caglar Soyuncu - 7 The Turk made a huge block to stop Firmino but injured himself in the process and had to be substituted for Vestergaard in the 60th minute. He was a big loss for the defence. AP

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  Luke Thomas - 6 The 20-year-old held his own, even in the second half when the pressure was ratchetted up. His penalty was saved too easily by Kelleher. PA

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  Youri Tielemans - 7 The Belgian was inventive in the first half and dropped back to help the defence in the second period. He scored in the shootout. PA

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  Boubakary Soumare - 6 The Frenchman got up and down the pitch and imposed himself, especially in the first half. He had less impact after the break. AP
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  James Maddison - 7 The 25-year-old played the smart ball that enabled Vardy to score the opener and then lashed in a tremendous strike from distance. He had plenty of clever touches and scored in the shootout. AP

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  Patson Daka - 6 The Zambian had an early chance that stung Kelleher's hands and he set up Vardy’s opening goal. His pace worried the defence but Liverpool stiffened after the break. He was replaced by Iheanacho in the 56th minute. Getty

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  Jamie Vardy - 7 The 34-year-old terrified Gomez and bagged two goals but should have scored more. He could have put the game out of Liverpool’s reach but hit the post. Reuters
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  Kelechi Iheanacho - 4 The Nigerian was brought on for Daka with 34 minutes to go. He was unable to get into the game but rammed home his penalty in the shootout. Reuters

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  Ryan Bertrand - 5 The 32-year-old replaced Dewsbury-Hall after an hour. He was solid enough but let himself down with a very poor penalty. PA

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  Jannik Vestergaard - 5 The Dane was sent on after an hour when Soyuncu was injured. He was caught in a poor position for Jota’s goal. AP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is happy to give up any home advantage and play in a one-off League Cup semi-final to ease the burden on his players.

After a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Leicester, set up by Takumi Minamino’s goal in the fifth minute of added time to make it 3-3, Klopp’s side were drawn against Arsenal in the last four.

The two-legged affair is due to be played in the weeks commencing January 3 and 10 but that comes after a run of five matches in 12 days for Liverpool and Klopp is not keen on the additional workload being placed on his squad.

“I think it would be better with one game absolutely,” he said after making 10 changes for the quarter-final with three academy players in his starting line-up and five on the bench.

“If there are two games, then we will play two games. But it would be helpful if there was only one.

“The draw has us at Arsenal, I’m fine with that, we play there and see who is better and go for it."

Leicester left Anfield kicking themselves having twice squandered a two-goal lead.

Jamie Vardy (two) and James Maddison had made it 2-0 and 3-1 to Leicester only for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diogo Jota and Minamino to respond.

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