Monday 29 February 2016 11:34, UK
Willy Caballero was Manchester City's unlikely hero as his spot kick saves gave them a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool following a 1-1 draw in the Capital One Cup final.
City appeared to be on their way to victory in normal time after Fernandinho struck a low shot under Simon Mignolet shortly after the break, but Philippe Coutinho equalised with just seven minutes remaining.
Caballero then saved three Liverpool penalties in the shoot-out before Yaya Toure stepped up to dispatch the winning spot kick. From Caballero's heroics to Jurgen Klopp's cup final heartache, here are the main talking points from Wembley.
Caballero the hero for City
Willy Caballero's inclusion ahead of Joe Hart was met with widespread disbelief after his FA Cup horror show against Chelsea a week ago, but he couldn't have scripted a better response. After an assured performance across the 120 minutes which included a vital stop from Divock Origi in extra-time, the Argentine produced three outstanding penalty saves to win the shootout.
City looked to be in trouble when Emre Can scored and Fernandinho struck the post, but Caballero athletically saved from Lucas Leiva and Coutinho before producing a stunning one-handed stop to deny Adam Lallana. With tears in his eyes on the pitch at the end of the game, he told Sky Sports: "It was a hard week for me but we have the trophy now and we have to enjoy it."
The 34-year-old followed Pellegrini from Malaga and he was indebted to his manager for keeping faith in him for the final. "I'm blessed to have this coach," he said. "He gives me the opportunity to come here and play in this cup and this final." Pellegrini was equally delighted. "I know some media were ready to criticise me if Willy made a mistake but I trust him so I am very happy," he said. "He deserves it."
Klopp denied first Liverpool trophy
While Manchester City celebrated their second League Cup in three seasons, Jurgen Klopp was left to rue more cup heartache. After Champions League and German Cup near-misses in his last three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, the German has now suffered cup final defeats in each of his last four seasons as a manager.
Liverpool's Europa League campaign means he could yet end his first season at Anfield with silverware, but it's little consolation after coming so close at Wembley. The Reds rode their luck to stay in the game until the closing stages, but Coutinho's late equaliser gave them the momentum, and they had chances to win it in extra-time.
Klopp's disappointment was obvious after the game, but he called on his side to put the defeat behind them and focus on Wednesday's Premier League meeting at Anfield. "You can fall down, but you have to stand up," he told Sky Sports. "We have the next chance on Wednesday against Man City. It's another game and another tournament and we have to carry on. We can't change this game now."
Sterling gets what he went for
When Raheem Sterling completed his acrimonious move from Anfield to the Etihad Stadium in the summer, he said the prospect of winning trophies "year in, year out" was his motivation. For a long time at Wembley, it appeared those words might come back to haunt him.
The 21-year-old missed two glaring opportunities to double City's lead after Fernandinho's opener. The first came on the hour-mark, when he side-footed David Silva's cross wide of Simon Mignolet's post. Then, just three minutes before Coutinho's equaliser, he wildly miscued after fine work from Sergio Aguero on the right.
It looked as though he might be made to pay the price in a frantic finale, but Caballero's saves and Toure's winning penalty spared his blushes. Just seven months after joining City, Sterling has his first winner's medal.
Defeat harsh on battling Lucas
The defeat was particularly tough on Lucas Leiva, who performed heroically for Liverpool in an unfamiliar centre-back role before missing his penalty in the shoot-out. The Brazilian midfielder has been forced to fill in at the back due to a spate of defensive injuries, and his task was made even tougher at Wembley when partner Mamadou Sakho was forced off injured in the first half.
Despite the upheaval and faced with the considerable threat of Sergio Aguero, Lucas excelled. He ranked first among his team-mates for interceptions (eight) and clearances (six) and also posted a passing accuracy of 87.7 per cent - the highest of any player to have started the game.
His battling display was summed up by a brilliantly-timed tackle on Pablo Zabaleta and a vital headed clearance from a Toure free kick in the closing stages of extra-time, and it did not go unnoticed by Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher, who described him as "the best player on the pitch", and Jamie Redknapp, who labelled him "magnificent".
Pellegrini kicks off trophy-winning send off
The news of Pep Guardiola's impending arrival at the Etihad threatened to derail Pellegrini's last season in charge, but he marked his 150th game as City's manager with his third trophy. In 2014, League Cup success was the catalyst to their Premier League triumph, and this year they will be hoping it can help them in the Champions League too.
Pellegrini is certainly focused on the task ahead. "We need to keep fighting for the title of the Premier League," he told Sky Sports as City celebrated on the Wembley turf. "We are nine points behind the leader but we have one game in hand. Now we need to cut those points and continue in the Champions League."
Former City man Niall Quinn is also feeling optimistic. "It's now about Man City winning trophies, it's not about Pellegrini leaving," he said. "They are united as one. They are in with a chance of two more trophies, and I've got to say he has been a class act during his time here."
