Andy Hunter was at Anfield tonight. Here’s his report. Thanks for reading this MBM.

Xabi Alonso speaks to Sky. “Every time you reach the penalties someone will feel it was harsh to go out … it was a proper cup game … really close on both sides … we have performed at a good enough level to compete at Anfield … for all the game it was really close … it was a solid performance from Mike [Penders] … he was stable and solid … very important after Saturday … this is football … part of our job … we competed and showed a good level … this is the least important competition for us … the Premier League is the main focus … we do not have much time to recover … we have to change the mindset quite quick.”

Andoni Iraola, who will face his old club Bournemouth in the quarters, speaks to Sky Sports. “It was quite a level game … very competitive … not a lot of chances … happy with the performances of our players … we are confident [in our young players] … they have helped us a lot … we were really close to scoring a second goal … when you win, you forget those chances … you have to keep your concentration levels [for penalties] … three [wins] at home in a row is important … we were struggling … now we have the biggest one against Arsenal on Sunday.”

Liverpool v Bournemouth.

Crystal Palace v Sunderland.

Manchester City v Bradford City.

The quarter-final draw. Fleetwood Town v Everton or Newcastle United.

The quarter-final draw is coming up. No flipping!

What a moment for Joe Gomez, who has never scored a regulation goal for Liverpool. But he has now slotted the decisive penalty for his team in a shoot-out. The draw after 90 minutes seemed about right on balance – neither team did quite enough to win – so it was down to the slim margins of the spot-kick shoot-out. Both Liverpool and Chelsea had it in their grasp, both spurned their chance, but Liverpool didn’t blink twice.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 6-5 Chelsea. Fofana next for Chelsea. He looks a tad nervous … and is asked to re-spot the ball before taking … and it’s too much for him. He leans back and launches his penalty deep into the Kop, and Liverpool’s hex over Chelsea from 12 yards extends to five out of five!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 6-5 Chelsea. Gomez, who has never scored for Liverpool, absolutely whistles a penalty into the top right. What moxie there!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 5-5 Chelsea. Emegha, on his Chelsea debut, aims for the bottom left … and Mamardashvili extends to claw away! Not the greatest penalty, but a fine save nonetheless!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 5-5 Chelsea. Gravenberch, who cost Liverpool the penalty in the first half, errs again. A scuffed kick towards the bottom right, and Penders, who guesses correctly, parries well! Chelsea one kick away from the quarters!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 5-5 Chelsea. Colwill has to score, like Henderson before him … and with a one-step run-up, he absolutely lashes into the top right! Mamardashvili had guessed correctly, but good luck stopping that one!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 5-4 Chelsea. Barcola up next for Liverpool, who were so close and now are so far. He takes a short run-up. Three or four steps … and whipped into the top left. What a penalty! Pressure back on Chelsea now.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 4-4 Chelsea. Henderson, of all people, up next for Chelsea. The erstwhile Liverpool captain, who lifted seven trophies for the club, runs up and … bashes a clean kick down the middle. Sudden death now!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 4-3 Chelsea. Tsimikas, who scored the decisive spot kick between these teams at the 2022 FA Cup final, has the chance to send Liverpool through. And he sails the penalty miles over the bar! What an awful spot kick!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 4-3 Chelsea. Barco next for Chelsea. He takes a little skip, sends Mamardashvili the wrong way … but clips his rising shot off the inside of the left-hand post and out! Liverpool suddenly one kick away from the quarters!

PENALTIES: Liverpool 4-3 Chelsea. Wirtz takes a short run-up … and bashes a fine penalty into the bottom right. Penders sent the wrong way. These are spot kicks out of the top drawer.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 3-3 Chelsea. Lavia next up for Chelsea. Before he can take, Penders is told to get out of everyone’s sightline. But Lavia isn’t fazed by the hold-up, sending Mamardashvili the wrong way as he whips into the bottom right.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 3-2 Chelsea. Gakpo, who equalised in the first half from 12 yards, lashes into the bottom left. Penders goes the wrong way. Every kick unstoppable so far.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea. Rogers, who gave Chelsea the lead from the spot in the first half, slots into the bottom left. Mamardashvili guesses correctly, but the placement was so good, he had no hope of reaching the ball.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea. Isak takes his first penalty in a Liverpool shirt. A straight-ish run up. High and into the top left. Again Penders guesses correctly; again he’s got no hope of stopping that.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea. Neto is first up for Chelsea. He aims for the middle of goal. Mamardashvili dives left and the ball whistles into the net. Fine penalty.

PENALTIES: Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea. Mac Allister up first. Penders takes his sweet time to go in goal. Mac Allister steps up to warm applause, and … roofs into the top left. Penders went the right way, but didn’t have a chance.

The penalties will be taken in front of the Kop. Liverpool to go first.

While we wait, a reminder of all the other scores in the League Cup tonight.

• Bournemouth 3-0 Aston Villa

• Fulham 0-1 Crystal Palace

• Manchester City 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (City win 4-3 on pens)

• Sunderland 3-2 Brentford

Bradford City and Fleetwood Town are also in the pot after last night’s heroics. Everton host Newcastle United tomorrow evening.

Liverpool and Chelsea have contested four penalty shoot-outs. Liverpool have won them all, most famously at the 2022 League and FA Cup finals. Chelsea are due one, it’s fair to say. Giorgi Mamardashvili and Mike Penders prepare to be the hero.

90 min +2: Gomez with another run down the right. Probably not the player Liverpool need in these situations.

90 min +1: … and just like that, we’re 60 seconds closer to a shoot-out. Both teams look like they’ve settled for one.

90 min: Gomez looks to have burst past Rogers down the right, but when he should cross, he loses control of his feet and falls over. Goal kick. There will be three additional minutes … then penalties?

88 min: It’s all very scrappy now. Nerves a-jangling.

86 min: Wirtz battles down the left and earns a corner out of not very much. Tsimikas takes. Mac Allister tries to get a shot away on the edge of the D, but can’t connect. Penders eventually claims.

85 min: Barco floats a diagonal towards Rogers on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. Rogers shanks a volley into the Kop. The tension at Anfield is palpable, and to think some people kid on they don’t care about the League Cup.

84 min: Gakpo cuts in from the left and shoots. It’s weak, deflected, and easy for Penders.

83 min: Mac Allister and Isak come on for Nyoni and Ngumoha.

82 min: That Wirtz scuff hit Colwill’s arm, but even if VAR was on duty tonight, it would have been a harsh penalty call. Both players were so close together and Colwill’s arm was right by his side.

81 min: A miserable 60 seconds for Wirtz, who scuffs at Gakpo’s downward header, allowing Colwill to block from six yards when he really should have scored. Then another phase of play, and Wirtz clanks a heavy pass out for a goal kick while trying to release Barcola into the box.

79 min: Sunderland have got over the line: they’ve beaten Brentford 3-2. And they’re joined in the quarter-final pot by Crystal Palace, who have won at Fulham 1-0. A reminder that the draw is scheduled to take place at 10.20pm UK time, and we’ll be all over that.

78 min: Chelsea are getting on top at Anfield. Rogers slips Palestra into space down the inside-left channel, and the resulting shot forces Mamardashvili into a strong tip around the post. And from the corner, Colwill eyebrows towards the top-right corner. Just wide. So close.

77 min: … nothing much occurs. Brentford have pulled another goal back at Sunderland through Igor Thiago, but with the scoreline 3-2 and five minutes of extra time played, is it too late?

76 min: Bournemouth are also in the quarters. They’ve sealed a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. Meanwhile at Anfield, the lively Emegha earns a corner down the right, from which …

74 min: Liverpool launch a four-on-three counter. Gravenberch has options … but clanks a dismal pass towards nobody in particular. Anfield groans … while the Etihad celebrates, Manchester City having just beaten Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

73 min: Ngumoha dribbles hard down the middle and is clipped from behind by Lavia, who goes into the book. A few nerves around Anfield now, as both teams and sets of fans glance at the clock.

72 min: Van Dijk – whose last act was to be shoved in the chest in a slightly unnecessary style by the eager sub Emegha – is replaced by Jacquet. No injury from the shove, to be clear.

71 min: The game between Manchester City and Brighton has gone to penalties: 2-2 after full time.

70 min: Liverpool stroke it around the back awhile, as both teams size up all those changes.

68 min: Chelsea make a triple change. Caicedo, Gusto and Welbeck make way for Palestra, Barco and Emegha.

67 min: Gakpo yanks Lavia to the ground, 35 yards out in a central position. He’s fortunate not to go into the book. But it is a free kick in a promising position for Chelsea. Henderson has a look, then defers to Rogers … who lumps a dismal effort deep into the Kop.

65 min: Barcola sashays in from the right and swivels, aiming a low drive towards the bottom right. Penders tips around the post, another fine save by a young keeper who had a mare against Spurs last weekend. He’s not one of the most-touted goalkeeping prospects for nothing.

63 min: Neto swings a free kick in from the left. Araujo clatters the ball clear, prepared to take Henderson with him if needs be. Fortunately not mistimed. It’ll be quite the scene if he gets one wrong by a split second.

62 min: Gomez crosses from the right. Araujo, alone 12 yards out, powers a header straight at Penders, who parries with a strong hand. Araujo should have scored. Chelsea counter immediately through Rogers, who nips in from the left and sees his shot deflected over. Nothing comes of the corner, but this game is finally threatening to spark into life.

60 min: Barcola and Wirtz launch an immediate press. Gusto goes over, once again, like autumn’s first leaf. He wants a free kick, but the linesman, standing right by, waves play on. Nothing comes of the attack, but Gusto – who then took off his own boot to show it to the official – needs to have a wee look at himself.

58 min: Liverpool make a double change, sending on Wirtz and Barcola for Koumas and McConnell.

56 min: Neto and Rogers combine down the right for a Chelsea corner. They play it short. A whistle goes for a Liverpool free kick. Van Dijk goes over to take the ball off Gusto’s toe, who goes over in spectacular and frankly preposterous style. The look of distain on Van Dijk’s face is quite the picture. Everyone eventually gets up and plays on.

54 min: Not a great deal going on at Anfield. Chelsea have seen more of the ball since the break.

53 min: Three goals against AC Milan, three goals at Manchester United, now three goals against Aston Villa. It’s been one heck of a week for Bournemouth, hasn’t it?

51 min: The free kick is no good. Meanwhile Álvaro Rodriguez has made it 3-0 to Bournemouth against Aston Villa.

50 min: Ngumoha nips in from the left and draws a clumsy foul from Acheampong, who goes into the book. A free kick to be swung in by Tsimikas.

48 min: Rogers brings the ball down with his arm – inadvertently, to be fair – and peals a shot towards the top right. Mamardashvili turns it around the post, and nothing comes of the resulting corner. No VAR, remember, so Liverpool had to suck that one up.

47 min: Rogers gets the break of a lucky deflection down the inside-left channel. If he turns on the jets, he’s free, so it’s a bit unlike him to look around with uncertainty, then take a heavy touch that sends the ball through to Mamardashvili. That was a good opportunity.

Chelsea get the second half at Anfield started. No changes. The visitors kicking towards the Kop now.

Turns out that Cherki free kick came off Vitor Reis, so it’s the young defender’s goal. Cherki unlikely to care too much as City continue to press forward, now after a winner.

The holders Manchester City are level again at the Etihad. A deflected Rayan Cherki free kick, after Phil Foden’s incisive run, and Brighton are pegged back to 2-2 with just under 20 minutes to play.

Half-time postbag. “The game seems to have gone to penalties a tad early” – Ian Copestake

“Wow, this game is atrocious. I started typing that before the first penalty, but just how poor and stupid a foul that is for the penalty kind of puts the icing on the cake” – Richard South

“This game doesn’t cut the mustard. If this match is a hot dog, I’ll take one with Henderson’s relish and Liverpool catch-up” – Peter Oh

Another goal for Bournemouth against five-time winners Aston Villa. Lewis Cook has made it 2-0 to the home side at Dean Court.

45 min +3: Koumas steals the ball off Gusto and launches an attack down the right. He rolls infield for Gakpo, who should power into space down the middle, but inexplicably leaves the ball behind. A big chance for one late first-half counter passed by.

45 min +2: As Colwill hobbles off, clutching the back of his left leg, Liverpool waste the corner.

45 min +1: Lacroix pulled up while chasing Gakpo there. A hamstring problem by the looks of it. He’s immediately hooked and on comes Colwill.

45 min: … but before the corner can be taken, Lacroix goes down holding the back of his left leg. On comes the physio. There will be three additional minutes.

44 min: A couple of daft penalties to concede. And now Chelsea are rocking. Gakpo’s long-distance drive is clawed away by Penders; Ngumoha’s shot from a tight angle on the left is deflected over for a corner …

41 min: Liverpool respond by going long down the right. A throw. Gomez flings it in. It’s half cleared. Nyoni shoots from the edge of the D. The ball deflects wide left off Fofana, and from the corner, swung in from the left …

39 min: Henderson makes as though he’s going to take the spot kick … much to the irritation of the home fans … but eventually he hands the ball over to Rogers. Who …

36 min: Brighton have started the second half at the Etihad in style. Georginio Rutter puts the Seagulls back in front against Manchester City: 1-2.

35 min: … and Henderson nearly gets the last laugh, latching onto Gomez’s poor ball out from the back and setting Chelsea on the attack. But Rogers welts a poor cross from the left out for a throw on the other side.

34 min: Henderson is getting the what-for from his old fans. And if that’s not bad enough for the former Liverpool captain, here’s Ian Copestake to riff on his pain: “Little wonder Henderson is not happy. He’s playing for Chelsea.” See what he’s got to put up with?

32 min: Gusto’s careless backpass gifts Liverpool a corner. Fofana and Penders a bit slow to react, too. Gakpo can’t beat the first man with his delivery from the right, though. Perhaps he’d be better deployed in the box, seeing he’s already got ten career League Cup goals for Liverpool?

30 min: Koumas bustles down the right and wins a throw. Gomez launches it long, and the ball pings around the Chelsea six-yard box before Fofana can hoick clear. This is not a classic. Not yet.

29 min: Brentford aren’t done quite yet. Callum Wilson reduces their arrears at Sunderland to 3-1. Goals everywhere but Anfield.

28 min: Ngumoha takes on Acheampong down the left and wins Liverpool another corner. Tsimikas’s delivery isn’t great, but Nyoni recovers the clearance 40 yards from goal … only to butcher the chance to release Gakpo down the middle. Penders still hasn’t been put to work.

26 min: The goals are flying in elsewhere. Malick Fofana has put Sunderland 3-0 up at home to Brentford, while Eddie Nketiah has given Crystal Palace a 37th-minute lead at Fulham.

24 min: Rogers and Araujo tangle as the former drives into the Liverpool box from the left. Rogers goes over and demands a penalty; the referee waves play on. No VAR, so there’s no second chance for Chelsea … and there was some contact. As ever with refereeing decisions these days, nobody knows anything. You’ve seen them given.

23 min: Ngumoha glides down the left and feeds Tsimikas on the overlap. Tsimikas’s low cross is easily intercepted and cleared, much to the Kop’s displeasure. Lovely initial surge by Ngumoha, though.

22 min: From the resulting free kick, Caicedo scuffs a poor shot wide left. That’s the first effort from either side, and it wasn’t very good. Onwards and upwards.

21 min: McConnell goes haring after his own heavy touch, then swats the ball away from Rogers with his hand. He goes into the book. He can have no complaints.

20 min: Caicedo goes over looking for a foul. He doesn’t get it, and tells it as he sees it to the referee, who thinks about booking him but stops at a lecture. Caicedo might not have much more rope. The home fans aren’t happy, but then neither is Henderson.

18 min: Tsimikas advances down the left and crosses low. McConnell hovers, so Caicedo is forced to nip in and blooter behind for the first corner of the evening. Gakpo takes, but the whistle goes for a shove by Tsimikas on Gusto.

16 min: McConnell tries to power in from the left but is upended. No foul, and it’s fair to say the Kop haven’t warmed to the referee so far.

14 min: Mateo Kovacic has levelled things up for Manchester City against Brighton. Meanwhile it’s a quickfire double for Sunderland against Brentford: Chemsdine Talbi and Tymur Tutierov with two goals in three minutes. It’s 2-0 to the hosts at the Stadium of Light.

12 min: Gravenberch clips Caicedo just to the right of the Liverpool D. Chelsea want a free kick, but the referee waves play on. Henderson can’t keep the move going. Liverpool get away with one there. Not a banner 60 seconds for the ref, you’d have to say.

11 min: Araujo intercepts 40 yards out, and feeds Koumas ahead of him. Koumas tries to release Gakpo down the middle. The pass doesn’t come off. Lacroix tries to run the ball back upfield, but is blocked by Koumas. It’s a foul; it’s a very harsh booking. But into the book he goes, and it’ll be a long evening for a player with a whole-hearted, no-nonsense pressing style.

9 min: Acheampong takes his time over a throw; then Lacroix gets methodical over a goal kick. The 2014 version of Jose Mourinho would surely approve.

7 min: Tsimikas delivers, but not particularly accurately. Chelsea clear their lines without too much fuss.

6 min: Ngumoha probes down the left and is fairly crudely brought down by Neto, who hangs out a leg to put a stop to the winger’s gallop. A free kick just to the side of the penalty box, which is now full of players of both stripe.

5 min: Some goals elsewhere to report. Amine Adli has given Bournemouth a seventh-minute lead against Aston Villa, while Malick Yalcouye has bundled Brighton & Hove Albion ahead on the half-hour at Manchester City.

4 min: Ngumoha had a great game on the right against Villarreal last week. He’s started out on the left tonight, though. Otherwise, not so much to report in these early exchanges.

2 min: “Do you think Henderson’s relishing his return?” wonder-quips Kevin Dwyer. “Sorry, it’s our favourite condiment.” He was chewing gum quite ferociously as he emerged from the tunnel. He’ll have been thinking about this evening quite a bit, I’ll be bound.

Basque pals Andoni and Xabi embrace warmly … but so much for friendship, because Chelsea turn Liverpool around, so the home side are kicking towards the Kop in this first half. They’re not huge fans of that. They kick off.

The teams are out! Liverpool in red, Chelsea in blue. These lads always look good when they play each other. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

Xabi Alonso – a European champion with Liverpool but having suffered two defeats out of two as a visiting manager with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid – speaks to Sky Sports. “The cups are important for us this year … we have a good challenge here coming to Anfield … it’s make or break … we want to make it happen today … we know we need a great performance … we have taken [this competition] from the beginning seriously … our players have played a few times already here … hopefully they will show it today.”

Pre-match postbag. “I’m loving the balance of experience and youth in the Liverpool starting XI. Jürgen had Klopp’s kids. Arne could have rolled out Slot’s Snappers more often. Today we’ve got Iraola’s Imps!” – Peter Oh

“Looking at the Liverpool line-up, I can only think that Iraola has decided not to risk the prospect of drawing the mighty Fleetwood Town in the next round” – Vanessa Edwards

“For the sake of the integrity of the Carabao Cup I think we are all Brighton fans tonight. If City stay in the competition and then lose their appeal (almost inevitable) then how on earth does that get resolved?” – Rick Harris

“Anfield is nine miles from where I currently slouch and I can feel the anticipation from here. Something might just be afoot. Hope? Hendo also returns. But am glad he has scored his one cracker for the season already” – Ian Copestake (and readers who enjoy making speculative investments may be interested to note that, now Ian’s said that, you can get 28s on Henderson scoring the first goal tonight)

Andoni Iraola speaks to Sky Sports. “We need fresh legs … a lot of players are waiting for this competition to have their starts, their minutes … they are pushing hard … so I have trust that they can perform well … the bench is always important … we have good options … according to how the game goes, we will decide one way or another … we need to keep winning games … we need to keep going … it does not stop … the level of our opposition is very high … everyone has to play their part … I hope today they do … Chelsea have a very strong starting XI … we have to respect them … we have to be at our very best if we want to beat them … we always practice [penalties] … I don’t know if it is better or worse, I think Fleetwood didn’t practice and they were incredible! … but we always do it!”

A reminder that the draw for the quarter-finals will take place tonight. The tombola is scheduled to begin spinning at around 10.20pm UK time, so we can probably add 10-20 minutes to that, The Man is notorious for dragging his feet at these things. There are already two balls in the spinner: Bradford City and Fleetwood Town, the latter having done a proper number on the reigning champions of England last night.

Chelsea make four changes after their 0-2 home reverse to Tottenham Hotspur. Danny Welbeck, Roméo Lavia, Malo Gusto and Wesley Fofana come in for Levi Colwill and Geovany Quenda, who are benched, the injured Jorrel Hato, and the suspended Cole Palmer.

Liverpool make seven changes to their starting XI following the 2-0 win at the weekend over Brighton. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha are in; Alisson, Jérémy Jacquet, Florian Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak drop to the bench, while Milos Kerkez misses out altogether.