JURGEN KLOPP could not look and, on this occasion, he could not even blame a pair of broken glasses.
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| Liverpool's players rush to celebrate with Joe Allen after scoring the winning penalty |
His dreams of a Wembley final, of leading Liverpool to silverware next month, remain intact, but only after his side survived one of those nerve-ridden, dramatic nights that are increasingly part of their fabric.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, so often the villain, produced heroics to deny Peter Crouch and Marc Muniesa and then substitute Joe Allen stepped up to strike the winning penalty, with Klopp sat at the back of the dug-out.
For Stoke there was only regret; their hopes of a first appearance in the League Cup final since 1972 falling agonisingly short after Marko Arnautovic’s controversial goal had initially succeeded in prolonged their interest in the competition by wiping out the first-leg deficit.
The visitors served note of their intention to shrug off the weight of history by taking their battle for a place in the final to extra-time.
Liverpool struggled to build on the advantage Jordon Ibe’s first leg goal had brought them to leave Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of reaching Wembley next month on a knife-edge after another flimsy display at Anfield.
The change in approach by Hughes, both Crouch and Jon Walters were included, was unashamedly implemented with a nod and wink towards Liverpool’s deficiencies.
And why not? Klopp pompously claimed on TV before kick-off that it “seems to be a heading festival,” yet when he selects mobile forwards to pull more cumbersome defenders out of position he is merely adopting a different approach towards the same end result.
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| Jurgen Klopp has the chance to win his trophy as Liverpool boss |
The irony that the goal which changed the complexion of the tie in first-half stoppage time resulted from a flowing move will not be lost on the visitors.Stoke, to a man, had failed to turn up at The Britannia and conjured more threat here than they had managed in 90 minutes on home soil.
That the first opportunity mid-way through the half arrived from a long ball was no surprise, but Klopp should be unhappy that Mamadou Sakho allowed Erik Pieters’ pumped pass from left-back position to sail over his head where Walters swooped.
A left-foot shot from the right hand side of the penalty area went across the face of goal on an evening when every chance felt crucial given how few clear cut opportunities there were.
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| Mark Arnautovic gave Stoke a controversial lead on the night |
The next one they took, albeit by virtue of a slice of good fortune. Walters and Bojan twice swapped passes in the build and when Bojan delivered a cute cross Arnautovic tucked home from eight yards.
Replays showed he was offside, but with the assistant linesman lagging behind due to the speed of the attack the effort stood.
Liverpool had drawn energy from Klopp’s presence on the touchline, and the noisy tumult emanating from the stands, but, at times, it felt as if they were playing with their hearts rather than their heads. The quality suffered as a result.
Emre Can sent a rasping 25-yard drive narrowly wide of Jack Butland’s right-hand post and Jordan Henderson attempted a volley from further out.
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| Relief for Liverpool as they now look forward to the League Cup final at Wembley |
Yet the late twist at the end of the half condemned both sides to face a test of their nerve as well as talent.
That Stoke’s inability to deal with a corner so nearly handed the initiative straight back immediately following the restart merely added to the frenzy.
Crouch failed to clear properly and when Henderson found Roberto Firmino his low shot was blocked smartly by the out-stretched left boot of Butland at his post.
Yet the siege was laid to Simon Mignolet’s goal with Stoke seeking another goal to make certain of their first win here since March 1959. Sakho twice blocked bravely from Walters as he looked to get shots off and Liverpool continued to find themselves chasing the ball rather than controlling it.
The introduction of Christian Benteke for the limping Henderson offered the hosts their own aerial presence and yet they continued to make life difficult for themselves.
The Belgium striker missed Alberto Moreno’s cross and when the ball fell to Jon Flanagan, who was making his first start since May 2014 due to a serious knee injury, he was quickly crowded out.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Flanagan, Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Lucas, Can; Milner, Firmino, Lallana.
Stoke (4-2-3-1): Butland; Johnson, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Crouch, Booked: Muniesa. Goal: Arnautovic 45.
Referee: J Moss (Tyne and Wear).
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