Willy Caballero was the hero as Manchester City beat Liverpool on penalties to lift the League Cup for the fourth time at Wembley.
Sergio Aguero hit the post in the first half before Fernandinho’s strike downed the Reds after the break.
Liverpool hit back with less than ten minutes of the game remaining when Philippe Coutinho finally gave the travelling Reds something to cheer.
The scores stayed level all the way through extra time and to penalties where Caballero justified controversial his selection ahead of Joe Hart by saving three spot kicks.
It is a welcome trophy for Manuel Pellegrini who wins the trophy for the second time in three years, having triumphed in 2014 as well.
There was cause for concern for Liverpool early on when Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho clashed heads which led to the latter being replaced by Kolo Toure, much to the Frenchman’s displeasure as he angrily threw a water bottle at the bench before breaking down into tears.
Aguero had the best chance of the half when City released him but his low shot was brilliantly pushed onto the post by Simon Mignolet to keep the scores level at the break.
The deadlock was broken minutes into the second half when Aguero latched onto another long ball before playing in Fernandinho who fired the ball through the clutches of Mignolet from a tight angle.
It was a moment to forget for the Belgian stopper who should have done better with Fernandinho having no right to score from such an angle.
Raheem Sterling should have buried his former club on the hour mark when David Silva played him in six yards out, but the ex-Red made a hash of it and completely missed the target, much to the amusement of the travelling Liverpool fans.
Moments later City should have had a penalty when Moreno brought down Aguero in the area with a clumsy challenge but referee Michael Oliver inexplicably said no and allowed Liverpool to clear.
And those misses proved costly as, in the 82nd minute, Coutinho equalised when he followed in after substitute Adam Lallana hit the post from two yards out.
So, for the third year in a row, the game went to extra time and Aguero again came within inches of scoring but was again denied by a great save from Mignolet.
Divock Origi had a chance to win it late on for Liverpool but Caballero made a stunning save to push away the Belgian’s header.
Consequently, the game went to penalties and despite Fernandinho missing the first one, Caballero saved penalties from Lucas, Coutinho and Lallana before Yaya Toure struck the winning penalty to win the League Cup for Manchester City.
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Source: TalkSport