Liverpool booked their place in the League Cup quarter-final with yet another shootout win against Chelsea, and Andoni Iraola’s selection on the wings is again up for debate.

The Reds’ head coach made the most of his opportunity to rotate, and yet still oversaw safe passage to the next round – even if it did require some penalty shootout heroics.

It extends the winning streak to five across all competitions, a run previously achieved at the start of last season, and all eyes are now on Arsenal’s visit in the league on Sunday.

Here, Adam Beattie (@beatts94) and Joanna Durkan (@JoannaDurkan_) discuss the shootout win, Trey Nyoni’s performance and what to expect against Arsenal.

Quite dramatic in the end, what were your biggest takeaways?

ADAM: It wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but it is an impressive cup win given Chelsea’s superior depth and the fact they don’t have Europe on their plate.

Neither side created too much in the first half, penalties aside, but the impact of both Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz off the bench was encouraging.

We looked more likely to score in the second half, and it was great to see Joe Gomez get his moment as captain. I’d be starting him in Europe, personally.

JOANNA: To be honest, it was the first match in some time that I felt a few nerves.

It was a welcome change, and to be on the end of another shootout win against Chelsea was delightful. We should do it more often.

As for my other observations:

• Gakpo has to learn how to receive the ball to his advantage, too many attacks collapsed because of him
• Left-back remains a position to address (add it to the list!)
• Gomez has a role to play this season, great to see him play well
• Iraola is rotating his side very well, both with his XI and subs
• Rio showed he’s comfortable on both wings, another thriving on Iraola’s trust

Let’s talk Trey Nyoni, how good was he?

JOANNA: He is flourishing with the trust from Iraola, and it has been really enjoyable to witness.

For a 19-year-old in an important position on the pitch, he looks incredibly composed and more like an established first-team option than an academy hopeful.

He passes the ball with conviction and while he gave it away a few times, it was because he was attempting the riskier pass and you can accept that.

He’s showing up some of his senior teammates, that’s for sure!

ADAM: He looks like a bona fide first-team option rather than someone we’re just looking to continue developing this season and that is a great position for a teenager to be in.

Plenty, including myself, felt there was room for one more midfielder in the summer, particularly in light of Curtis Jones’ departure, but if we’d brought Nyoni in as his replacement for a similar fee you wouldn’t have heard too many complaints given his start to the season.

The midfield balance currently isn’t perfect, but that might play into his hands as he carves out a role for himself. I can see some league starts in his not-too-distant future.

There were some boos for Jordan Henderson, agree or disagree?

ADAM: I didn’t boo him myself, but I can appreciate why people would.

It’s easy to forget just how big the Chelsea rivalry was 15 years or so ago and that never completely goes away, so a former captain making that move is always going to rub people up the wrong way.

In 2026, it’s more of a grey area and I do think in the fullness of time people will move on, but in the context of a tie we all wanted to win I think it was fair game.

His tomfoolery before their penalty didn’t help either, it felt like it went up a notch after that.

JOANNA: I wouldn’t have booed if I was there, but I can certainly understand why some did.

He got the reception he desired with Brentford at the end of last season, but this time came back in a Chelsea kit, which was never going to see him welcomed with open arms, was it?

He was a member of the opposition, one we historically don’t like, and so I don’t see any issue with it. And like you say Adam, he didn’t exactly help himself, did he?

With Arsenal on Sunday, who would be in your starting XI?

ADAM: I’d bring Alexis Mac Allister straight back in. He’s been the one this season that has made the midfield look the most balanced, which is night and day from last season.

Isak and Wirtz will also come back in, I’d be starting Barcola and Gakpo out wide, but if Iraola fancies throwing Rio straight back in, I wouldn’t be mad at it!

JOANNA: Interesting you should say start Gakpo again, Adam. He’s played the full 90 minutes in the last three off the back of an injury, and looked knackered at the end here.

I know Iraola likes to have the advantage of options off the bench as well late on, but I’d be starting Barcola and Rio on the wings for that direct pace from the off, we can’t be standing off them.

With Isak through the middle and Wirtz behind, we should be looking to stretch Arsenal and keep their defenders occupied.

The defence picks itself, and I’d love to see Mac Allister and Nyoni together in midfield for that mix of defensive balance with forward-thinking passes.

It’s not a fixture to play safe, in my opinion, as a win would move us only three points behind the Gunners.

My XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak