Capital One Cup: Big names fall as Liverpool win 14-13

It may well be a sign of the lack of respect some Premier League clubs show the Capital One Cup. On a night when Liverpool scraped through on penalties, an astonishing 14-13 victory, against an unlucky Middlesbrough team, Premier League title chasing Arsenal and Everton were both knocked out by Southampton and Swansea respectively. Both teams fielded weakenend teams and this will lead to the debate as to whether the Capital One Cup actually matters anymore.

Liverpool's woes continued, however, as they fielded a strong team which failed to find its feet or any real consistency in a shambolic performance against a Middlesbrough team sensing the chance of an upset. It took penalty shoot-out sudden death at the end of 120 minutes of frantic football before Liverpool managed to somehow escape with a fourth round place secured following an unbelievable penalty shoot-out which ended with 27 goals beating the two keepers. With Manchester United already having been knocked out 4-0 by the MK Dons in the second round, the tournament is already missing some of its biggest attractions and leaves Manchester City and Chelsea with the opportunity to continue their League battle and growing rivalry in the Capital One Cup. (BM)