Capital One Cup Semi-Final - Second leg
Result: Liverpool 0-1 Stoke City (Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties)
Date: 26 January 2016
Venue: Anfield
Liverpool progressed to the Capital One Cup final, after defeating Stoke City 6-5 on penalties at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's side came into the encounter with an advantage, having secured a 1-0 win in the first leg at the Brittania Stadium.
The first chance of the game fell to Stoke after 22 minutes as John Walters sprung the off-side trap but ended up dragging his effort wide of the mark from a tight angle.
Liverpool went close to taking the lead in the 33rd minute through Emre Can, however the German midfielder's effort from distance sailed inches wide of the upright.
After a barren spell in the first half, Stoke broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when Bojan picked out Marko Arnautovic for the calm finish from six-yards out.
The Reds pushed for an opener shortly after the halftime break and they were nearly rewarded in the 47th minute, as Jack Butland produced a fine save at his near post to keep out Roberto Firmino's close range effort.
Mamadou Sakho was presented with a chance to level matters for Liverpool in the 67th minute but the French defender failed to direct his header on target from six-yards out.
That proved to be the last bit of goal-mouth action for the second half, which forced the game into extra-time with the aggregate score standing at 1-1.
Stoke nearly took the lead in the tie in the 113th minute. Peter Crouch's flick-on found Marko Van Ginkel, who controlled well before rattling the upright from close range.
However, neither side could see find the goal to win the tie in closing stages of the second half and the match needed to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Simon Mignolet proved to be the hero for Liverpool, as he saved Marc Muniesa's spot-kick, before Joe Allen sent Liverpool to final by making it 6-5.
