Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers thought some of his young players could take considerable credit from a less-than-vintage team performance in Tuesday’s dramatic League Cup victory over Middlesbrough, which ended with an epic penalty shoot-out.

Championship side Boro held their Premier League opponents to a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes of the third-round encounter at Anfield, almost snatching victory when they hit the post in the 85th.

They then ensured it went to penalties by netting a second equaliser to make it 2-2 in the dying seconds of extra-time.

Liverpool eventually won the shoot-out 14-13 as Albert Adomah fired the 30th attempt wide.

Rodgers admitted afterwards his side had failed to create much in attack and were guilty once again of mistakes, but he insisted it was still a “real good night” for Liverpool – beaten in three out of five league games so far this season – as they returned to winning ways ahead of Saturday’s derby clash with Everton.

And there was particular praise for teenage debutants Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams, as well as 20-year-old Suso.

Local lad Rossiter opened the scoring with a cool finish early on before being replaced by Williams, and Suso notched Liverpool’s second.

Rodgers said: “Young Jordan Rossiter at 17 years of age – I was delighted for him. He got the opportunity and showed wonderful composure for his finish.

“I was also impressed with Jordan Williams. And young Suso hasn’t had a lot of game time at all, but he has kept working and I thought he was really bright for us when he came on, and took his goal really well.”

Boro boss Aitor Karanka was bursting with pride at his promotion-chasing side’s efforts.

“These are the kind of games where you have to be very proud of your players, your group, your club, everything,” Karanka said.

“I think we have shown everybody what kind of club Middlesbrough are.

“I don’t have many words to explain my feelings right now.”

No world record

Meanwhile, Liverpool and Middlesbrough set a new League Cup landmark with 27 goals in their penalty shoot-out on Tuesday night but they would have needed to convert another 13 spotkicks to beat the world record.

The highest-scoring shoot-out was Argentinos Juniors’ 20-19 win over Racing Club in November 1988, when all drawn Argentine League games went to penalties, from 44 attempts overall.

However, the longest shoot-out, as recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, was 48 in the 2005 Namibian Cup final, when KK Palace won 17-16 against Civics after 15 kicks were missed.

While setting a new shoot-out mark for the competition, it also equalled the record between English professional clubs established when Dagenham & Redbridge beat Leyton Orient 14-13 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a minor cup played between lower league teams in September 2011.

The previous longest League Cup shoot-out was 9-8 on three occasions: Arsenal vs Rotherham in 2004 and Manchester City vs Stoke City and Aston Villa versus Colchester United in 1982.

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