Welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Chelsea at Anfield. And it's currently 1-1 after Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo traded quickfire penalties.
The Reds are chasing a fifth straight win all competitions after back-to-back victories in the Premier League and the Champions League.
There is an argument to suggest the League Cup is the least important of the trophies available for Liverpool to win this season. But no club has won this competition more than the Reds with their last success coming in the 2024 final against this evening's opponents.
And throw in the fact that Chelsea have two bona-fide Liverpool legends in the dugout and on the pitch, in Xabi Alonso and Jordan Henderson, and it's all set up to be a mouthwatering encounter.
And it's an encounter that Alonso's side took the lead in Rogers converted a 40th-minute penalty awarded after a needless challenge by Ryan Gravenberch on Moises Caicedo in the box. But three minutes later Gakpo scored a spot-kick of his own after Wesley Fofana handled in the area.
Details on how you can watch the tie can be found HERE.
Save
Really good save from Penders to deny Barcola.
All happening
Big save Penders to deny Araujo. Chelsea up the other end and a shot from Rogers is blocked for a corner by Gomez.
Liverpool subs
Koumas and McConnell make way for Wirtz and Barcola.
Ngumoha decision
Ngumoha a few moments ago had a break after good work from McConnell defensively and he really should have played in Gakpo but chose for the extra dribble and the chance fizzled out.
He's obviously such an exciting talent and an individual one at that but those are the aspects of his game he can still improve on. He will, I'm sure. Only 18.
Yellow card
Acheampong booked for a late one on Ngumoha.
Underway
The second half is now underway.
No.10 issues
This game has highlighted how Liverpool don't really have an ideal solution for when Florian Wirtz doesn't play.
James McConnell has been all effort and intent but I am not sure he is suited to that attacking midfield position.
Ryan Gravenberch didn't excel either last week against Villarreal.
Half-time ratings
Giorgi Mamardashvili 6
Didn’t have a save before being sent wrong way with Chelsea opening penalty.
Starting at right-back, imposed himself early with a couple of strong duel victories but began to have issues with the dangerous Rogers.
Ronald Araujo 6
Switched to his more accustomed centre-back position, distribution not always on point first half but defensively solid.
Virgil van Dijk 7
Good interception with Welbeck waiting to run on to throughball before interval.
Kostas Tsimikas 6
Plenty of effort down the left going forward but quality of final ball was lacking.
Ryan Gravenberch 5
Extremely quiet opening half-hour encapsulated with daft challenge on Caicedo to concede the Chelsea penalty.
Trey Nyoni 6
Aggressive pressing helped bring Liverpool forward and twice almost created chances before break.
Lewis Koumas 5
Started on the right wing but unable to make much impact. Booked.
James McConnell 5
Operating as a more defensive-minded number 10, couldn’t quite force his way into game first half. Booked.
Rio Ngumoha 6
Sparked a poor game into life with one dazzling run but didn’t see enough of ball before interval.
Cody Gakpo 6
Spent most of the first half nearly getting on the end of things playing down the middle until converting the spot kick to level and tested Penders from range.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
Level at the break.
Chelsea sub
Lacroix has pulled something off the ball and he's going off. Here comes Colwill.
No mistake
No mistake fro Cody Gakpo, who buries the penalty.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Gakpo pen)
Liverpool penalty
Liverpool penalty! Handball.
Chelsea lead
Well I said Liverpool needed to make their superiority count.
They didn't and now they trail.
It's 1-0 Chelsea thanks to Rogers' penalty and it was such a soft one for Gravenberch to concede.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea (Rogers pen)
Chelsea penalty
Chelsea penalty, Gravenberch brings Caicedo.
Untested
Liverpool are well on top here, they are sharper, fitter and more aggressive to every ball.
But they need to make it count.
So far, goalkeeper Mike Penders has been untested.
Quality deficit
There's been a lot of effort here but the quality has been poor.
A couple of flashes and that's about it.
No card
Gakpo clatters into Lavia from behind and avoids a yellow card.
He was lucky there to be fair. Referee Darren England opted for a foul only
The game is starting to improve though as we approach the half-hour mark.
Heating up
Tsimikas with a really poor cross with four waiting after excellent work from Ngumoha. Van Dijk down the other end snuffs out a chance for Welbeck. Game heating up after nearly 25 minutes.
McConnell booked
James McConnell booked for handling it after he lost it with a heavy touch in midfield. Was totally avoidable that.
Magic of the cup
There have been a precise total of zero chances so far between the two teams.
We've had 20 minutes.
Liverpool the better side
Liverpool have been the better side but still no real chances that will have Xabi Alonso concerned.
It's all being played largely in front of the visitors' defence but the hosts have been stronger and more intense in the duels. Danny Welbeck has been floored twice, by Gomez and Van Dijk. Fairly, I might add.
Quiet
Not a whole lot to write home about after 10 minutes here.
Liverpool are the aggressors but no chances for either side as of yet.
As I type, Gakpo had a sniff of goal but it was snuffed out quickly by Lacroix.
Man City 0-1 Brighton
Still early days but there could be another 'cupset' on the cards, though not as big as the one last night at Highbury.
Brighton are beating Man City at the Etihad.
The winners of this one could well be the favourites for the tournament heading into the quarter-finals.
Positional changes
Gakpo is actually down the middle with Koumas on the right.
Also Gomez is right-back with Araujo partnering Van Dijk at centre-back.
Welbeck is starting up front for Chelsea and he likes to score against Liverpool.
Henderson (mild) boos
Mild boos for Jordan Henderson whenever he gets the ball.
Gakpo up top
Looks like it's Gakpo through the middle with Koumas wide right.
Underway
We are underway at Anfield.
Looks like Cody Gakpo starts off the right and Rio Ngumoha on the left.
Teams are out
And the two teams are out.
We're moments away from kick off and the atmosphere is building nicely.
