Liverpool booked their place in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup for a record 17th time, courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Leeds United at Anfield.
The Reds scored both goals in the final quarter of the match, as Divock Origi prodded home at the front post before youngster Ben Woodburn blasted into the roof of the net from close range.
Leeds had a couple of big chances to take the lead, both of which Simon Mignolet managed to keep out, while Kemar Roofe also saw an attempt come back off the upright.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
6.45pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the EFL Cup clash between Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield. This quarter-final tie is set up nicely, with both teams currently enjoying a positive run of form in their respective leagues; Leeds maintaining their promotion push in the Championship and Liverpool looking good value to go all the way in the Premier League.
6.47pmThis is a fixture more associated with the English top flight, of course, but Leeds' plight over the past decade and more means that games between these two are now few and far between. With the good times seemingly on the brink of returning for both, this should be an entertaining tie with a place in the last four of the competition up for grabs. Plenty to get through between now and kickoff, so let us turn attention to some team news.
6.49pmTEAM NEWS!
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Lucas, Moreno, Stewart, Ejaria, Wijnaldum, Can, Mane, Origi
LEEDS UNITED XI: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Bartley, Taylor, Vieira, O'Kane, Sacko, Roofe, Dallas, Doukara
6.51pmStarting with a look at the home team, then, and manager Jurgen Klopp has made has made a whopping eight changes to the side that saw off Sunderland 2-0 here three days ago in the Premier League. Divock Origi, pretty much as expected, is the man to lead the line for the hosts this evening, with Daniel Sturridge currently nursing an injury problem that keeps him out of the squad altogether.
6.53pmGeorginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can and Sadio Mane are the three players to retain their places from last time out. Mane will offer attacking support to Origi, who has scored three goals - including the vital breakthrough strike against Sunderland last time out - in 13 appearances this term. The majority of those have come from the bench, so this is a real chance for the Belgian to stake a claim for a more regular place in the Reds' starting lineup.
6.55pmBen Woodburn misses out on inclusion, despite catching the eye of many in Liverpool's age-grade sides and also getting a run-out from the bench against the Black Cats. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria do both start at Anfield, however, in what is a heavily-rotated side named by Klopp for this quarter-final tie. It does of course mean that the likes of Alberto Moreno, Simon Mignolet and captain-for-the-day Lucas Leiva can get some minutes under their belts, but Leeds fans will be glad to see so many changes.
6.57pmLeeds boss Garry Monk remained relatively coy in the build-up to this match with regards to the strength of side he would select. United are battling for promotion this term but it seems silly to rest any of your key players for a cup quarter-final, but he has done just that be omitting Chris Wood from the starting XI. Only Daniel Sturridge (4) has scored more than Woods (3) in the competition this year, but the visitors will have to make do without him from the off.
6.59pmSouleymane Doukara, the scorer of two goals in seven appearances this term - seven of those coming from the bench - is the man tasked with leading the line. Robert Green is also replaced in goal by Marco Silvestri - United's hero in the last round after helping his side to a penalty shootout win over Norwich City. Four changes in all made by Monk from Saturday's 2-1 win over Rotherham United, with a place in the last four of the competition now within sight.
7.01pmBENCH WATCH!
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Lovren, Clyne, Henderson, Milner, Woodburn, Grujic
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Green, Ayling, Grimes, Philipps, Mowatt, Wood, Antonsson
7.03pmKlopp has just been explaining the reasoning behind his team selection, saying that the likes of Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino could not feature tonight as they are not fully fit. "We don't have so many options in attack anymore," he added, which is in reference to the absence of Firmino, Sturridge and of course Philippe Coutinho. The latter is expected to be out for the remainder of the year, so it will be interesting to see how the Reds get on in that time.
7.05pmLiverpool and Leeds United boast the competition's top-scoring players in their ranks, although both Daniel Sturridge and Chris Wood miss out on selection this evening. The former would have started had he not been nursing an injury problem, while the Whites' hitman is seemingly rested with the club's Championship promotion aspirations taking front seat. In Sturridge's absence, Origi has a rare chance to impress from the off.
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7.07pmThis one is nicely set up, then, with two in-form sides set to lock horns on Merseyside. Liverpool in particular are flying in the Premier League at the moment and look good value to win silverware in Klopp's first full campaign at the helm. The Reds have lost just one of their 16 games in all competitions so far this season and head into this match on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run. They are, quite simply, on fire!
7.09pmKlopp's charges are second in the top flight, one point behind leaders Chelsea and locked in what is shaping up to be a four-way battle for the title, along with Manchester City and Arsenal. Liverpool are not dropping too many points, either, having won nine of their 13 league games thus far; the only blemish in recent weeks being a goalless draw against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium which saw them kept at bay by a strong defensive effort.
7.11pmThey were made to work hard for victory against Sunderland here at the weekend, though, coming a week on from that stalemate on the South Coast. Origi proved to be a key influence from the bench in that one, scoring from a shot-cross that fooled Jordan Pickford and went right the way through, before James Milner sealed things from the spot late on. Throw a few injury issued into the equation, including one that will keep Coutinho out for five weeks or so, and we will now begin to see exactly what the Reds are all about.
7.13pmThis is a rare midweek outing for the hosts, of course, due to a lack of European football at Anfield this season - a real blessing in disguise. With Bournemouth to come next weekend Klopp is understandably a little cagey about naming the strongest side available to him, but defeat tonight and all of a sudden that upwards momentum will come to a grinding halt and the feelgood factor will quickly need rebuilding again. That said, this is still a Liverpool XI that should be too strong for Leeds.
7.15pmIn terms of their EFL Cup record this season, Liverpool brushed aside Burton Albion and Derby County in the early rounds, winning by an aggregate score of 8-0. Then came the 2-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur here four weeks ago, setting up a tasty quarter-final tie with Leeds to ensure that they remain on track to matching - and indeed bettering - last term's tag of beaten finalists. Winning this trophy will work wonders for getting players and supporters to truly believe in the bigger target, which is to end the club's wait for Premier League success.
7.17pmDID YOU KNOW? Liverpool, defeated by Manchester City in that final last season, have progressed from each of their past three League Cup quarter-finals, scoring 11 goals in the process at an average of 3.7 goals-per-game. Those figures are skewed somewhat by the thumping of Southampton at this stage 12 months ago, when running out 6-1 winners on the night - Origi scoring a hat-trick and Sturridge also helping himself to two.
7.19pmIt is worth pointing out that Liverpool have also scored more goals (10) than any other side in this year's competition, with eight of those coming away from home and two here at Anfield against Spurs in the last round. Klopp has proven pedigree, too, winning six of his eight games in this competition; the defeats coming to Stoke in the semi-final second leg (before progressing on pens) and in the final at Wembley Stadium which ended in heartbreak for the Reds.
7.21pmWhile Liverpool are currently flying high in the Premier League, opponents Leeds are not doing too badly themselves in the division below. Monk was supposedly on the brink of being sacked by controversial owner Massimo Cellino just a month or so into his reign following some disappointing results, but things have slowly been turned around and now the Whites look in a good position to maintain this playoff push across the course of the whole season.
7.23pmA four-game winning run in September started the surge back up the division, before hitting a sticky patch of form the following month. It is now four wins in five in the Championship, however, leaving them firmly in the playoff mix in fifth place and with the added bonus of a quarter-final tie in the EFL Cup quarter-final to look forward to tonight. Only once since relegation from the Premier League in 2004 have United seriously challenged for promotion back to the top flight, so Monk could well become a hero should he see this challenge all the way through.
7.25pmJurgen Klopp has guided Liverpool into second place in the Premier League table, one point behind leaders Chelsea in what is shaping up to be a four-team tussle for the title. Leeds United, meanwhile, are also looking good value to achieving their overriding, and indeed long-term, aim in returning to the top tier of English football, with Garry Monk recovering from a shaky start to put together a positive run of form.
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7.27pmEarning promotion will certainly not be easy, though, particularly in the year when Newcastle United and Aston Villa - improving by the week - are also vying for one of those three promotion spots. Throw experienced campaigners Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield Wednesday into the mix, on top of surprise packages Huddersfield Town and Reading, and it is fair to say United have one major battle on their hands. It certainly beats mid-table mediocrity, however!
7.29pmMonk may have rotated his squad slightly this evening with four changes, but supporters are desperate to see their side continue this cup run into the next round. It is a rare foray into the latter stages of a cup competition for Leeds, although they did reach the quarter in 2012 when eventually losing to Premier League opposition in Chelsea. They have won only once at this stage since the turn of the century, in fact, so the omens are certainly not great.
7.31pmThey have fared better going further back, though, having advanced into the semi-finals four times previously. Of their last 11 League Cup games against Premier League opposition, the Whites have won just two - including defeat in all four away from home in that period. United overcome Fleetwood Town on pens and then Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers to make it into round four, where they saw off Norwich City on penalties following a dramatic 2-2 draw.
7.33pmThis cup competition can often be a distraction in the early stages, as highlighted by the weakened sides, but when you reach the last eight teams start to believe that they can go all the way. Monk will still have an eye on upcoming league games, however, with Brighton, Reading and Villa all to come in successive matches - three of the division's top-four form sides. Winning tonight would certainly keep the momentum going, while also sparking a real party in that packed away end at Anfield.
7.35pmPREVIOUS MEETINGS! This is the fourth meeting between these two sides in this competition, with Liverpool yet to taste defeat. They have faced off 116 times in all competitions, meanwhile; Leeds United winning 57 of those and their opponents triumphing on 28 occasions. They have not locked horns in a competitive match since 2009, when the Reds won 1-0 at Elland Road in the League Cup, while the last match here between the two was way back in 2003.
7.37pmWith kickoff now a little under 10 minutes away at Anfield, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Jurgen Klopp said: "It is about having a lineup which can stand the intensity of the game because Leeds are in a really good moment. They are a football-playing side and they will force us into a lot of things so we need to work hard in these games. The players need to be fit for this. We don't want to rest somebody who doesn't need a rest."
Garry Monk: "It's an historic fixture in English football and we have to respect that. We're under no illusions. It's a very difficult game for us. It's a great challenge, that's how we have to look at it. Our young players have a bit of freedom to go there. We're under no pressure. The odds are against us, but we have good belief in ourselves."
7.39pmKlopp discussing the thoughts behind his starting lineup, then, which shows eight changes from last time out. A few of those alterations were enforced, but the German admitted that he would have left Coutinho out this evening even if he had been in contention, while Firmino was never likely to feature. Sturridge is the major loss, with his four goals in this competition unmatched by any other player.
7.41pmMonk claims that his players "have a bit of freedom", meanwhile, with the odds very much against his side. Wood has been left out of the starting lineup this evening, which is a bit of a surprise, but the former Swansea City chief clearly feels that the Championship takes priority - even with a semi-final of a major competition up for grabs. Four changes made in all for the visitors, including the return of Silvestri in goal.
7.43pmBoth sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff just a matter of moments away. Liverpool will reach a record 17th League Cup semi-final with victory this evening, while opponents Leeds United are seeking to make it beyond the quarters for the first time in two decades. Before we get under way, we will have a minute's silence to commemorate those who lost their lives overnight in the Brazilian air crash disaster.
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1 minKICKOFF! Super atmosphere inside Anfield for this EFL Cup quarter-final, which Leeds United get under way. The visitors in their traditional all-white home strip this evening, while Liverpool are sporting their famous red colours.
3 minCHANCE! Big chance for Leeds to open the scoring just a few minutes into the game, as a simple Dallas ball through the middle catches Liverpool cold and Hadi Sacko has a clean shot on goal. Mignolet, back in goal this evening, did well to keep the ball out down low.
5 minWell that early opening will certainly give United huge confidence for the remainder of this match. Mane is the only serious threat in that Liverpool attack, so the visitors happy to just soak up the pressure at the moment.
7 minStewart dropping really deep to collect the ball from deep, with Lucas also nearby to help build attacks. The Reds not really getting the ball forward in any particular rush, however, with Leeds just shifting from side to side to block out each passing angle.
9 minMane is so dangerous when he gets on the ball around the opposition box, leading to Bartley wiping him out. The hosts completely dominating possession in the opening 10 minutes, but the only chance so far has fallen Leeds' way.
11 minSAVES! Leeds give the ball away and Liverpool quickly get forward, where it is worked to Wijnaldum inside the box. The Dutchman's deft little flick towards the top corner was kept out superbly by Silvestri, levelling up the chance count for the night. Kemar Roofe had a 25-yard shot kept out by Mignolet prior to that.
13 minSo both teams have had a chance apiece inside the opening 15 minutes of the match, then, with Wijnaldum coming close for Liverpool and Sacko being thwarted by Mignolet. The game has a familiar theme to it already, as the Reds continue to dominate possession.
15 minA major disappointment for the hosts, as Klavan takes range from around 35 yards out with a shot that ends closer to the corner flag than the goal itself! It is the Leeds fans who are making all the noise at the moment, with 15 minutes now played.
17 minStill no serious threat on that Leeds backline, bar a Wijnaldum shot which Silvestri had covered. Liverpool constantly winning the ball back within seconds of losing it, but Moreno has had his attempt blocked inside the box.
19 minLiverpool have seen close to 80% of the ball now with just short of a quarter of the game played. Again, Monk will not be too troubled as the passes are not leading anywhere in particular. That Sacko chance inside three minutes still the best opening of the night.
21 minA dangerous cross into the Leeds box from the right is flicked on by Cooper, doing just about enough to stop a player in red attacking the ball. Liverpool's pass count continuing to go through the roof, as they gradually make their way forward.
23 minLeeds able to put together a rare attacking move, having pretty much spent the past 20 minutes camped inside their own half. Full-back Taylor somehow gets his way past three opposition players and has space inside the box, but his cross is blocked behind.
25 minA good spell for Leeds, as the corner is whipped into a dangerous area. Mignolet flaps at it and Vieira is given a clean shot at goal, which hits a sea of bodies. For all Liverpool's possession, it is the visitors who look more dangerous in and around the box.
27 minReal disappointment for Eunan O'Kane, who is down on the pitch receiving some treatment. Kalvin Phillips is warming up on the touchline so a sub seems imminent for the hosts in that midfield area - a blow for Monk, but he will be happy with what he has seen so far.
29 minLEEDS UNITED SUB! Kalvin Phillips does indeed come on for Eunan O'Kane, who is unable to shake off the injury problem. A bit of disruption to the match, so the hosts will need to find their groove once again.
31 minVieira wins the ball from Wijnaldum and Leeds have a chance to break, but Doukara runs into a bit of trouble and sees his searching ball over the top met by the head of Moreno down the right. A corner won by the visitors from the next attacking move.
33 minThe corner is met by Lucas, who gets enough distance on the ball to clear. Liverpool struggling to get some passes together like we saw in the opening quarter of the match; instead it is Leeds looking the more lively when they get forward.
35 minCLOSE! Leeds almost the victims of their own downfall at the back, as a weak pass from Phillips is left by Bartley for Silvestri to clear. The keeper was struggling to reach it, though, and Emre Can prodded narrowly wide of the post.
37 minLiverpool edging towards 80% possession as we enter the final eight minutes or so of the first half at Anfield. Not been a game of too many chances, in truth, with the best of the lost falling to Sacko three minutes in for Leeds.
39 minCLOSE! Doukara earns Leeds a throw deep in Liverpool's half out on the right, which goes long into the box. It was cleared to Phillips who struck it from 23 yards, and a deflection off Lucas saw the ball end narrowly wide of the target. United asking some big questions now.
41 minLiverpool clear their lines and quickly break, but Phillips wins the ball back from Origi high up the pitch. Home fans wanted a free kick but referee Andre Marriner felt that the Belgian simply lost his feet - replays proving the official right.
43 minAll gone extremely scrappy in the middle of the park now, which leads to a few encouraging cheers from home supporters. Monk will be by far the happier of the two managers; his side looking comfortable at the back and occasionally getting bodies forward.
45 minJust the one minute of added time to come at Anfield, so Leeds appear to have done enough to have gone halfway through this game all square. No replay should this one finish all square, incidentally, as extra time and pens will instead be used if required.
45+2 minHALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 LEEDS UNITED
8.35pmAndre Marriner sounds his whistle for half time, meaning that we head into the interval all square in a game of minimal chances thus far in this EFL Cup clash at Anfield. Liverpool have seen plenty of the ball but done very little with it in dangerous areas, while Leeds United have looked promising when they have managed to get bodies into the opposition half.
8.38pmLeeds had a glorious chance to make the breakthrough just three minutes into the tie, only for Simon Mignolet to keep out Hadi Sacko after he had latched on to a Stuart Dallas ball through the middle. That would prove to be the only real intricate piece of play of the opening 45 minutes from either side, however, with Liverpool - showing eight changes from last time out - dominating possession but doing very little with it.
8.41pmKemar Roofe was the next visiting player to test Mignolet, this time trying his luck from 20 yards out with an attempt that the Belgian was always favourite to keep out. Moments later the Reds created their only chance of a flat first half, as Georginio Wijnaldum's delicate flick was kept out by returning Leeds stopper Marco Silvestri. After spending almost the entire of the opening quarter of the game inside their own half, United grew more and more into things and looked just about the more threatening.
8.44pmFor all their passing moves, it was a slack piece of Leeds play which gave Liverpool their only other sight of goal before the break as Emre Can made the most of some hesitancy at the back and prodded the ball marginally wide. Kalvin Phillips, introduced on the half-hour mark due to an injury picked up by Eunan O'Kane, saw a shot deflected inches wide of the post from the final attacking move of the half.
8.47pmPlenty to play for when the two teams re-emerge for this second half, then, with extra time and penalties to come should it be required. Garry Monk has already made one change this evening, but could Jurgen Klopp now turn to his bench at the midway point?
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Lovren, Clyne, Henderson, Milner, Woodburn, Grujic
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Green, Ayling, Grimes, Mowatt, Wood, Antonsson
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46 minRESTART! We are back up and running at Anfield, where there is news of a Leeds United change to bring you - Luke Ayling coming on in place of captain Liam Cooper at the back. An improvement needed by Liverpool, who get us under way.
48 minThe longer this game remains goalless the more confident the visitors will feel of grabbing a shock victory; the opposite surely being true of Liverpool. It is the Reds who are on top possession wise once again, but Origi fails to get a shot away when picked out in the box.
50 minHome fans encouraged by that piece of play, even if Origi did fluff his lines a little by refusing to put his foot through the ball. The Belgian scored a hat-trick at this stage last season in the demolition of Southampton, but he is still awaiting his first attempt tonight.
52 minPoor from Moreno, who drags his shot well wide of goal just when Liverpool had built up some momentum and had their fans firmly behind them. More intent to the Reds' game now, though, unlike in the first half when there was too much sidewards play.
54 minOFF THE BAR! Roofe within the width of the post from opening his Leeds account. Stewart gave the ball away, allowing the United midfielder to open up his body and wrap his boot around the ball, with his curled attempt agonisingly close to going in.
56 minYELLOW CARD! A ball over the top has just too much on it for Origi to make contact with, as Silvestri takes it with both hands. The away supporters really enjoying themselves at the moment, but less so Doukara who has just been shown a yellow card for a cynical challenge.
58 minSHOT! A real rarity, as Liverpool finally get another shot away. It was a weak, and rather reluctant, shot from Can, which deflected right into the welcoming hands of Silvestri. Better from the Reds, though, with nearly an hour played.
60 minCan prods the ball through but it has just about too much on it for Mane to get on the end of, particularly when being ushered by Taylor. Leeds ready to bring on Wood for the remaining 30 minutes - and possibly more - as Monk opts to gamble.
62 minLEEDS UNITED SUB! Monk turns to Chris Wood, the competition's second-top scorer behind Daniel Sturridge, who takes the place of Stuart Dallas. The Whites really sensing that they can pull off a famous win tonight.
64 minSAVE! Another half-chance for Leeds, as Bartley meets a corner but can only glance it a yard or so wide of goal. Liverpool struggle to get up the pitch and the ball is slotted through to Roofe, who is denied by Mignolet down low. What a chance!
66 minLIVERPOOL SUB! Rather than bringing on one of his more experienced pros, Klopp - bravely, it must be said - turns to promising Welsh youngster Ben Woodburn in place of the injured Stewart. A big call from the German, that.
68 minLeeds have now created the game's two stand-out chances, but Mignolet has twice come to the hosts' rescue. Opposite number Silvestri is struggling with an injury, it seems, as he has started to limp a little. Similar story for Origi who is also a tad groggy.
70 minOFF THE POST! Liverpool have finally awoken from their prolonged slumber! The ball was slipped through for Wijnaldum, who fired across Silvestri but was denied by the upright. Mane was on the rebound but could not find a way through, while Woodburn was also blocked.
72 minWe may be goalless at Anfield but this has been a gripping tie. Really tough one to call overall, with Liverpool now back on top following a sustained spell of pressure from Leeds for the best part of 20 minutes. Extra time beckons!
74 minLiverpool starting to grow more and more into things, with Leeds sitting back more than they would like. Klopp still has two changes available, remember, so do not be surprised to see them introduced at some point if things stay the same.
76 minGOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 LEEDS UNITED (DIVOCK ORIGI)
77 minOrigi opens the scoring for Liverpool from pretty much his only real chance all evening. Trent Alexander-Arnold sent a superb cross towards the front-post area, where the Belgian - the scorer of a hat-trick at this stage last season - gambled to prod the ball past Silvestri.
79 minOrigi really struggling at the moment, with Klopp readying a couple of players to come on and see this game through. Liverpool have remained on top since edging ahead; Leeds just unable to really get any rhythm to their play as this one slips away.
81 minGOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 LEEDS UNITED (BEN WOODBURN)
82 minWhat a moment for Welsh youth international Ben Woodburn, who has found the net on his second senior appearance for the Reds. It was well worked by the hosts, with the ball making its way from right to left where the 17-year-old simply rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
84 minGOAL DISALLOWED! It's all happening now! Wood picks out the back of the net to seemingly give Leeds a late lifeline, but the flag was quickly up on the far side - no goal. Sacko was the slipped through from the next attack, but his finish was shockingly bad.
86 minSAVE! Wood with a decent header, but unfortunately for him it was too central and Mignolet did not have to break a sweat to collect the ball. Goals from Origi and Woodburn are going to settle this entertaining last-eight tie.
88 minLIVERPOOL SUB! Origi is shown a yellow card for what appeared to be dissent - his last act before being replaced by Marko Grujic for the final few minutes. The Reds have had to ride their luck at times but a record 17th semi-final is now in touching distance.
90 minDoukara has had his fair share of chances this evening, the latest of which he again fails to take as he lifts the ball over the bar. May have been a different night entirely had the visitors converted one of their openings, while also ruing that Roofe shot which hit the post.
90+2 minFULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 LEEDS UNITED
9.45pmThe full time whistle sounds at Anfield, meaning a record 17th semi-final appearance for Liverpool to look forward to. Both their goals in the 2-0 win came in the final quarter of the match; Divock Origi bagging the key breakthrough strike before substitute Ben Woodburn blasted home on just his second appearance for the club. Leeds United had chances of their own to open the scoring, but they were thwarted each time and also saw the post deny them an hour of the way through.
9.47pmThat concludes Sports Mole's live text updates of events at Anfield. A full on the-whistle-report can be found by clicking here, while coverage of the other quarter-final tie between Hull City and Newcastle United - now in extra time - can be found here. Enjoy!
