Liverpool Edges Arsenal in PKs After 10-Goal Carabao Cup Thriller

What was expected to be a nondescript clash of younger, second-tier squads wound up producing what will surely go down as one of the games of the season.

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Arsenal and Liverpool are no strangers to playing in some classic battles, but Wednesday's Carabao Cup last-16 clash didn't figure to be one of them.

The most notable item entering the match was Mesut Ozil being restored to Arsenal's lineup, as both sides opted for younger, largely second-choice squads as is customary in the competition.

Well, a game-of-the-season candidate broke out instead.

The two Premier League powers combined for 10 goals, with Arsenal blowing multiple leads and Liverpool winning in penalty kicks after an outrageous 5-5 draw at Anfield.

Liverpool prevailed in spot kicks, 5-4, after Dani Ceballos had his PK saved by Caoimhín Kelleher and Curtis Jones clinched the triumph with Liverpool's final kick.

Liverpool led after six minutes thanks to a Shkodran Mustafi own goal, but Arsenal surged back through Lucas Torreira and a pair of strikes from cup-competition wonder Gabriel Martinelli in the 26th and 36th minutes.

🚨 Upset in the cards?! 🚨

Gabriel Martinelli bags a double in the first half! pic.twitter.com/C0sLjBP5IB

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 30, 2019

Liverpool pulled one back before halftime through James Milner's penalty kick, but Arsenal went ahead 4-2 when Ozil deftly set up Ainsley Maitland-Niles for a tap-in in the 54th minute.

James Milner's mistake leads to an easy tap-in for Maitland-Niles! pic.twitter.com/93Tk2jOo7D

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 30, 2019

Liverpool turned on the style for a pair of goals that pulled the Reds even, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's rocket from long distance followed by Divock Origi's clever turn and finish in the 58th and 62nd minutes.

A ROCKET FROM OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/MNtnc1NBhS

— ESPN (@espn) October 30, 2019

WHAT A GAME! 4-4!

A brilliant turn and finish from Divock Origi! pic.twitter.com/gj8XISc2jM

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 30, 2019

Not to be outdone, though, was Joe Willock, with the 20-year-old midfielder lacing a long-range blast of his own to restore the lead at 5-4 with 20 minutes to go.

6' Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal
19' Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
26' Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
36' Liverpool 1-3 Arsenal
43' Liverpool 2-3 Arsenal
54' Liverpool 2-4 Arsenal
58' Liverpool 3-4 Arsenal
62' Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
70' Liverpool 4-5 Arsenal pic.twitter.com/i7lwiN4Y0l

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 30, 2019

The lead didn't last. Origi found the back of the net in stoppage time with an acrobatic side volley, making it 5-5 and sending the match to penalty kicks.

Divock Origi's late, cup heroics continue for Liverpool

(via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/8N60xZWO9X

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) October 30, 2019

Liverpool advances to the quarterfinals, joining Man City, Man United, Everton, Leicester City, Oxford United, Colchester United and Aston Villa.