“I love this cup!” declared Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool went through to the German’s first final with the club by beating Stoke City on penalties in the Capital One Cup.
The Reds took a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their semi-final with the Potters on Tuesday night, but the visitors leveled the series through Marko Arnautovic’s close-range finish in first-half stoppage time.
Mark Hughes’ team was a tough nut to crack at Anfield and forged chances to strike again, only for the remainder of the game — including 30 minutes of extra-time — to pass by without any further goals.
After six penalties each in the shootout, Simon Mignolet repelled Marc Muniesa’s spot-kick, and Joe Allen subsequently placed his own high into the corner to set up a Wembley Stadium meeting with Manchester City on February 28.
“Until now, it has been a great tournament,” a delighted Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com. “The final is for the whole squad because nearly everybody has played. We had all our parts of this cool tournament. The first round, I was not here.
“The second round, a young team played and did great against — as you see now — a really strong opponent, Bournemouth. Then we played a perfect game at Southampton and a really good game at Stoke. We fought for the final.
“Until now, I love this cup!”
Read more from Klopp at LiverpoolFC.com >>
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com
