Twitter Reacts: Manchester City Win League Cup Final vs. Liverpool on Penalties

Here it was, the showpiece of Sunday's sensational lineup of football: Manchester City against Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley.

And it would do well to match the drama of the game that preceded it at Old Trafford.

On one touchline, Jurgen Klopp was looking to kick-start his tenure at Anfield with a trophy.

On the other, Manuel Pellegrini wanted to sign off with (at least) one more piece of silverware.

The stage was set, and the two teams' fans were ready for the occasion.

The big news from Manchester City's team sheet was Pellegrini's decision to drop Joe Hart for Willy Caballero in goal, a decision that baffled some supporters:

"

Pellegrini, and Caballero, will look like absolute muppets and will get a huge amount of stick if this doesn't work out... risky.

— MCFC Info (@MCFClnfo) February 28, 2016"

Liverpool, meanwhile, went into the game without Kolo Toure, as Klopp favoured Lucas Leiva in central defence.

Not that his preferred defensive partnership lasted too long, with the Ivorian coming on for the injured Mamadou Sakho after just 20 minutes.

"

Mamadou Sakho = Off
Kolo Toure = On#NoPanic #LFC pic.twitter.com/exYGxhYlYF

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) February 28, 2016"

Liverpool fans weren't exactly filled with optimism...

"

If Mignolet in goal and Lucas and Kolo in CB doesn't win us this cup then i don't know what will

— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) February 28, 2016"

"

Live pictures of Kolo Toure & Lucas Leiva at centre back... #CapitalOneCupFinalpic.twitter.com/R6kXtLq6NP

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) February 28, 2016"

Sakho himself wasn't thrilled with the decision either, though Klopp appeared to have made the right choice.

Simon Mignolet tipped Sergio Aguero's shot onto the post in the first decent chance of the game, and the only threatening moment of the first half.

Maybe fans had been spoiled by what came just hours earlier at Old Trafford, but the Cup final wasn't exactly capturing the imagination.

Maybe that's what inspired Fernandinho, who fired beneath Mignolet to open the scoring minutes after the re-start.

One-nil to Manchester City, and suddenly, it was an uphill task for Liverpool.

It's fair to say the Reds' stopper should have done better with the Brazilian's shot on goal.

Some were measured in their criticism of the Belgian:

While others, surprisingly enough, were not so kind:

"

Simon Mignolet... pic.twitter.com/1kjJrF1wL6

— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) February 28, 2016"

"

Simon Mignolet warming up for tonight's match..... pic.twitter.com/FcRlUuI6LA

— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) February 28, 2016"

"

Another angle of Mignolet's howler... pic.twitter.com/SgxevaMQdq

— Footy Memes (@FootyMemes) February 28, 2016"

Raheem Sterling was the next to feel the wrath of the Internet after he fluffed his lines when it seemed easier to score.

It was a golden opportunity for the 21-year-old to score against the club he left in summer, but he failed to direct his shot on target.

The game had suddenly opened up, and City had several chances to add to their lead on the counter-attack.

And just as it seemed as though the game was slipping away from Liverpool, up stepped Philippe Coutinho to turn home the rebound after Adam Lallana had struck the woodwork.

"

Liverpool fans right now... #Coutinhohttps://t.co/JH61zAKmHC

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) February 28, 2016"

Mignolet, meanwhile, went some way toward redeeming himself when he first reacted superbly to deny Fernando and then Yaya Toure scoring at the other end as the clock ticked toward stoppage time.

A match that had earlier threatened to fail to live up to the hype had suddenly burst into life, and we needed a further half hour to separate the two teams.

Who knew what would happen? It was time for some bold predictions.

Aguero was played through on goal, but he couldn't beat Liverpool's newest hero: Mignolet.

"

Mignolet. pic.twitter.com/FurzTbpAEI

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) February 28, 2016"

Caballero did his best to emulate his opposite number when he made a save on Divock Origi in a game that looked increasingly like it might be decided by some goalkeeping magic...

...perhaps from 12 yards?

Tensions threatened to boil over when Yaya Toure and Lallana went into the book after a scuffle.

To be fair, it was a bit of a mismatch...

"

Yaya Toure chokeslam Adam Lallana! pic.twitter.com/AmrFoXFJY0

— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) February 28, 2016"

That was all that extra time would give us, though, with the final going all the way to penalties.

Liverpool had prevailed in two shootouts already this season in the League Cup, against Carlisle United and the semi-final against Stoke. City, on the other hand, had not won a shootout since 2009.

Fernandinho was the first to blink when he stuck the woodwork with City's first spot-kick.

But just when Pellegrini needed a hero, Caballero responded superbly. The Argentine saved three successive spot-kicks from Lucas, Coutinho and Lallana to hand the advantage right back to Pellegrini's men.

It was left to Yaya Toure to win it...

"

YAYA TOURE WINS IT! Man City win the #CapitalOneCupFinal!!!! #MCFCvLFC pic.twitter.com/ul4gQNFuDb

— Copa90 (@Copa90) February 28, 2016"

It was agony for Liverpool but pure ecstasy for Manchester City, who remain in the hunt for three trophies.

It was a great way for Pellegrini to start his final few months in charge of the club.

"

I'm happy for Pellegrini. Deserves something out of his final season with City. Best of luck to him in the future.

— Merseyside Fischer (@MerseysideFisch) February 28, 2016"

Liverpool were devastated, but at least the future seems bright...

"

I’m gutted. I really wanted to win our first trophy under Klopp.

— Kloppite (@PeteKopite) February 28, 2016"

"

Only thing I'm happy about right now is that we have Jurgen Klopp. He will make us great again, it's just hard having to wait. #LFC

— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) February 28, 2016"

The two sides don't have too long to dwell on it, though, with a midweek league matchup at Anfield looming.

Let's do it all over again in three days, then...

[Twitter]