Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Liverpool advanced to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup following a wild 14-13 penalty-shootout victory over second-tier Middlesbrough on Tuesday night at Anfield.

The teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time as Middlesbrough twice pegged back their illustrious hosts. Both sides then converted penalty after penalty in an astounding shootout before Albert Adomah finally missed to send Liverpool through.

Jordan Rossiter had put Liverpool ahead with a first-half goal on his senior debut, but Middlesbrough equalised in the second half through Adam Reach to send the match to extra time. Suso then put the Reds ahead a second time with a 109th-minute strike, but Boro's Patrick Bamford grabbed his side's second equaliser with a penalty in the 123rd minute.

In the shootout, all 11 players on both teams—including both goalkeepers—took at least one penalty. Suso netted the 14th for Liverpool before Adomah missed, bringing the match to an improbably dramatic end.

But even with the win, concerns remain for Liverpool, who proved vulnerable defensively yet again. Having conceded multiple goals on set pieces this campaign, the Reds were pegged back in the same fashion by Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

In addition, Liverpool often struggled to turn their territorial dominance into clear chances. Despite holding the vast majority of possession, the Premier League side needed all 120 minutes to see off Middlesbrough, a team from England's second tier.

The Reds will now return their attention to the Premier League, where the fixture list offers little respite. After playing a full two hours of football Tuesday night, Liverpool will host local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Capital One Cup fourth-round draw is set for Wednesday, with matches to be played the week of Oct. 27.

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Middlesbrough started brightly, but Liverpool took the lead in the 10th minute thanks to a bit of poor defending from the visitors.

The initial chance seemed to have passed after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jamal Blackman blocked Rickie Lambert's shot, but the ball rolled only as far as Rossiter outside the box. From there, the youngster slipped a low shot past Blackman—who attempted to make a standing kick save—into the net for the opening goal.

Boro fought back and attempted to level the score before half-time. In the 30th minute, Kike saw his volleyed shot deflected over the bar. Seven minutes later, Lee Tomlin had a shot-cross deflected off target.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Boro found the equaliser in the 62nd minute. For Liverpool, it was a case of defending deja vu as the Reds once again conceded from a set piece.

Grant Leadbitter created the chance, curling in a free-kick with pace from the edge of the box on Boro's right flank. Reach slipped free behind his marker and nodded in a glancing header from close range to put his side back on level terms.

Liverpool responded with the introduction of striker Mario Balotelli in the 74th minute, but the next big chance fell to Middlesbrough three minutes later. After accepting a pass from Tomlin outside the box, Adam Clayton rifled a powerful shot on target from long distance that appeared destined for the goal, but Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet dived to his right to push the ball away to safety.

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Second-half stoppage time brought controversy when Middlesbrough's Daniel Ayala handled the ball in his own box while trying to clear a lofted pass. Referee Mike Jones waved play on, though, and the match headed to extra time.

The first half of extra time passed without any clear chances for either side. In the 102nd minute, Mignolet swatted away a Leadbitter free-kick at his back post. Three minutes later, Suso curled a shot after target Balotelli had held up the ball inside Boro's box.

The substitute made amends within moments, however, scoring in the 109th minute. Adam Lallana and Jose Enrique created the chance, trading passes down the left flank before Enrique crossed into the middle. Boro cleared, but only as far as Suso, who guided his low shot into the net.

Liverpool seemed set for victory without the need for penalties, but a late twist remained. In the 32nd minute of extra time, Bamford won a penalty after being bundled over in the box by Kolo Toure. One minute later, the Chelsea loanee coolly slotted in his penalty to send the match to spot-kicks.

But as the home fans quickly found out, the real drama was only just beginning.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Simon Mignolet	5.9
Javier Manquillo	7.1
Kolo Toure	5.9
Mamadou Sakho	6.2
Jose Enrique	7.2
Jordan Rossiter	7.4
Lucas Leiva	8.6
Adam Lallana	9.3
Raheem Sterling	7.3
Rickie Lambert	6.5
Lazar Markovic	7.4
Mario Balotelli (for Lambert, 74')	7.5
Jordan Williams (for Rossiter, 79')	7.1
Suso (for Markovic, 98')	9.0

Post-Match Reaction

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (via LiverpoolFC.com):

"

We played OK in the game; we didn't create a great deal, to be honest, but we showed good perseverance to keep going. Like the way it is at the moment, we made too many mistakes and we got punished for that in the game.

We're making mistakes at the moment - too many mistakes. The first goal I was disappointed with, and even more so the second goal.

We were in control of the game, Middlesbrough's legs were just about gone and we didn't need to offer them any encouragement, but we gave the ball away sloppily and they go through and get the penalty.

But the players showed great resilience and mentality to keep going. And at the end, when it was needed they showed wonderful composure, some of our young players stepping up to take the penalties.

"