Liverpool inflict penalty punishment on Stoke

Liverpool 0 Stoke City 1 (1-1 on aggregate, Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties): Midfielder Joe Allen was the penalty shoot-out hero as his spot-kick sent Liverpool to Wembley after a tense Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield.

The second-half substitute, who had scored in his previous two midweek outings, slotted home after much-maligned goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved Stoke defender Marc Muniesa’s effort in sudden death.

“I was nervous, there was confusion about who would take the seventh penalty but I picked the right corner and it’s electric here now,” said Allen last night.