Willy Caballero the hero as Manchester City edge Liverpool in dramatic League Cup final shootout

Updated 29/02/2016 at 08:41 GMT

League Cup final, Wembley Stadium – Liverpool 1 (Coutinho 83) Manchester City (Fernandinho 49) – Manchester City win 3-1 on penalties

Manchester City celebrate winning the Capital One Cup Final with the trophy

Image credit: Reuters

Willy Caballero was the hero as Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

Liverpool had won five out of five penalty shootouts in cup finals coming into the encounter, but the 34-year-old Argentine made three saves to allow Yaya Toure the chance to score the winning spot-kick – which he did with aplomb.

The first half was a timid affair, with Sergio Aguero coming closest to breaking the deadlock, as his goalbound effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post from the much-maligned Simon Mignolet, but the Reds stopper was at fault as he allowed Fernandinho’s shot to slip underneath him early in the second half as City took the lead.

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Raheem Sterling had two glaring opportunities to put the game to bed, and silence the boos from the Liverpool end, but the England forward somehow missed the target on both occasions.

And he was made to pay for his profligacy, as Philippe Coutinho grabbed an equaliser with Liverpool’s first shot on target seven minutes from time.

Neither side was able to find a winner in extra time, with Mignolet at his very best to deny Aguero, so we headed for a penalty shootout.

Lucas, Coutinho and Adam Lallana all saw their penalties saved by Caballero, who justified his inclusion in the side with a heroic display in the shootout, giving Pellegrini another winners’ medal to add to his ever-growing collection.

Manchester City's Wilfredo Caballero and Wilfried Bony celebrate after the game

Image credit: Reuters

TALKING POINT

First of several trophies this season for City? Much has been made of Manuel Pellegrini’s last hurrah, and his quest for a triumvirate of trophies got under way at Wembley. They should have won it in normal time, but Pellegrini’s decision to play Willy Caballero paid dividends in the shootout. City were in imperious form in the Champions League in midweek, but their Premier League form is where the most attention is needed. Now, with one trophy under their belts, and a place in the last eight in Europe’s elite competition all-but secured, they can kick on with their quest to regain the Premier League crown. After all, Leicester will fall away at some point, right?

MAN OF THE MATCH

Yaya Toure. We can’t give it to Willy Caballero, as he was a mere spectator in the 90 minutes. Yaya Toure carried the attack to Liverpool, with David Silva far less effective than usual. The Ivorian was strong in the tackle, a threat on the counter, and never gave in for 120 minutes. His winning penalty was as emphatic as it gets, providing further evidence he is the man for the big occasion.

Liverpool players collect the runners up medals

Image credit: Reuters

PLAYER RATINGS

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Clyne 7, Lucas 8, Sakho 6, Moreno 5, Can 6, Henderson 5, Milner 7, Firmino 4, Coutinho 6, Sturridge 7. Subs: Toure 7, Lallana 6, Origi 6

Manchester City: Caballero 8, Sagna 6, Kompany 8, Otamendi 7, Clichy 6, Fernandinho 7, Fernando 6, Toure 8, Silva 6, Sterling 5, Aguero 7. Subs: Zabaleta 6, Navas 6, Bony 6.

KEY MOMENTS

23’ - SAVE! Brilliant stop from Mignolet. Silva picks out the run of Aguero through the middle, the City hitman cuts inside, beats a bewildered-looking Sakho, but his goalbound effort is tipped onto the post by Mignolet

49’ - GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 City. Gift for City as a Mignolet mistake allows Fernandinho to break deadlock! Silva again pivotal to the move. His long ball picks out Aguero, who is much more sensible this time, holds it up, waits for the overlap from Fernandinho, who fires at goal from the angle, but Mignolet has to do much better, allowing the ball to roll underneath him and into the net.

Fernandinho celebrates scoring Manchester City's first goal with Sergio Aguero

Image credit: Reuters

59’ - WHAT A MISS! Had to be him. The script was set for Sterling to net against his former club, but after great work from Yaya Toure and Silva to pick him out, the England forward somehow side-foots wide!

80’ - MISS! Sterling again! Absolutely brilliant from Aguero to carve out an opportunity out of nothing, pulls it back for Sterling, who scuffs his shot wide.

83’ - GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 City. Salvation for Liverpool as Coutinho equalises! Sterling's misses have proven to be costly! After the ball bobbles around the box, Clyne fires across the face of goal, Lallana looks certain to score, his effort from close-range comes out off the post, but straight to Coutinho, who side-foots home.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring their first goal with Jordan Henderson

Image credit: Reuters

114’ - MAGNIFICENT STOP! What a save from Mignolet. Aguero darts through the middle, Lucas can't get there, Aguero flicks the ball goalwards, but Mignolet sticks out a hand to keep it out.

PENS - Liverpool 1-0 City (Lucas misses). Lucas up next... and SAVED! Brilliant from Caballero!

PENS - Liverpool 1-1 City (Coutinho misses). Coutinho steps up confidently... and SAVED! Way off his line...

Manchester City's Willy Caballero saves a penalty taken by Liverpool's Adam Lallana (not pictured) during the penalty shootout

Image credit: Reuters

PENS - Liverpool 1-2 City (Lallana misses). Lallana steps up... and SAVED! Best of the lot from Caballero.

PENS - Liverpool 1-3 City (Yaya Toure scores). Yaya Toure to win it... AND HE DOES IT! Toure finds the bottom corner with a confident penalty and City are the Capital One Cup winners! Caballero the hero!

Manchester City players celebrate winning the match after a penalty shootout as Liverpool players are dejected

Image credit: Reuters

KEY STATS

Manchester City have now won four of their five League Cup finals (1970, 1976, 2014 and 2016).

Liverpool lost a League Cup final for the fourth time (1978, 1987, 2005 and 2016).

Both teams have scored in all five of Liverpool’s visits to the new Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City players celebrate winning the Capital One Cup

Image credit: Reuters

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