Liverpool edge penalty marathon

Liverpool 2 Middlesbrough 2

The Reds prevailed 14-13 after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. However, a penalty conceded in the last seconds of extra-time by Liverpool defender Kolo Toure gave Boro’s Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford the opportunity to force a shoot-out.

After Bamford missed Boro’s second spot-kick, Raheem Sterling spurned the chance to win it when his effort was saved by Boro goalkeeper Jamal Blackman.

An exhibition of finishing brought the score to 14-13 in Liverpool’s favour, with both keepers scoring on each other. Finally though, Boro’s Albert Adomah put his effort wide to bring an end to the drama.

Teenage sensation Jordan Rossiter and Jesus Joaquin Suso netted for the home side while Adam Reach and Bamford responded for Boro.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino has warned his Tottenham players that reputations mean nothing to him when it comes to picking the team.

Spurs enjoyed a strong start to the season under their new head coach, winning four games and scoring 10 goals along the way but their form has dipped of late. A poor performance on Sunday brought a shock 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom which means Tottenham are now four games without a victory in all competitions.

Pochettino’s squad is brimming with big-money signings and star names but the Argentine insists he is not afraid to act if players fail to deliver.

“Do reputations mean anything to me? No. I select the team but it’s up to the players to show me (they deserve to play),” Pochettino said.

“Nobody is different. We have 25 players and they are all in the squad. If I decide you play, you play.”

Pochettino, whose side host Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup tonight, continued: “We analyse every game and every performance and after that, we decide.

“For me, when I pick the best players for playing in each game, I always analyse their last performance.

“I have no problem making changes, I have no problem picking different players in different competitions or if they are not in a good moment.

“If you need to change, you change — it’s not a big problem.”