Liverpool 1 Ipswich 1
(Liverpool win 5-4 on pens)
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek bounced back from his traumatic blunder against Manchester United at the weekend to help his side into the quarter-finals of the League Cup at Anfield tonight.
Liverpool advanced into a last eight trip to Aston Villa by winning a penalty shoot-out 5-4 against first division Ipswich after the two sides had finished 120 minutes of play tied at 1-1.
Dudek, unexpectedly named in the starting line-up after his nightmare performance helped gift United a crucial Premiership victory on Saturday, got a tremendous reception from the Kop before the kick-off.
But there was nothing he could do to prevent Ipswich going ahead in the 14th minute. German midfielder Markus Babbel fluffed a clearance from a Darren Bent cross and the ball fell sweetly for Tommy Miller, who was able to sidefoot home with ease.
Dudek kept Liverpool in the game with a top class save to deny Pablo Counago shortly before the break.
Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf got Liverpool back on level terms from the penalty spot nine minutes after the break and debutant Neil Mellor could have put them ahead moments later, his shot coming back off the post.
But for all their pressure, Liverpool could not find a way through the Ipswich defence and the match inevitably ended in penalties.
Jamie Clapham blasted Ipswich's third penalty over the top and Diouf completed a perfect set of five for Liverpool to send them through.
Despite Dudek's resilient performance, he faces an extended spell on the Liverpool bench following his recent errors.
Manager Gerard Houllier revealed earlier in the day that he intended to give England under-21 keeper Chris Kirkland a protracted run in the first team.
Draw for the quarter-finals of the League Cup
Wigan v Blackburn
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Sheffield Utd v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Chelsea
(Ties to be played Dec 17/18)