Liverpool saw off Chelsea in another Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out as former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso suffered his third defeat as a manager at Anfield.

Four years ago in the final at Wembley the Reds prevailed 11-10 in an epic shoot-out in which only one player missed and while this could not quite match that for drama the celebrations at the end were telling as the hosts won 6-5 after a 1-1 draw.

Joe Gomez, who has not scored in 280 appearances for the club, struck the decisive spot-kick for the hosts, with Wesley Fofana subsequently blazing over.

The game itself had been short on quality and the fact two needlessly-conceded penalties brought the only goals in a four-minute period at the end of the first half spoke volumes.

Basic geometry meant Ryan Gravenberch’s lunge from behind Moises Caicedo was never going to win the ball but it was not even necessary as the midfielder was heading away from goal.

Morgan Rogers scored the spot-kick in an otherwise underwhelming night for the England international – although he was not alone in that regard – before Fofana inexplicably raised an arm to allow Cody Gakpo to equalise.