Cody Gakpo scored from the spot in both normal time and the penalty shoot-out as Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo(Image: LFC TV)
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Cody Gakpo believes the Anfield crowd was a major factor in helping Liverpool ensure another miserable return for former favourite Xabi Alonso.
A much-changed Reds set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at home to Bournemouth by beating Alonso's Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their fourth-round clash on Wednesday evening.
Gakpo scored during normal time from the spot and converted his effort during a fifth successive shoot-out triumph for Liverpool against the Londoners, the most they have managed against any opponent.
Alonso has now lost on his old stomping ground for a third successive season after previous defeats when in charge of Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
READ MORE: Joe Gomez sends six-word message as major question asked about Liverpool penalty
Villarreal boss Inigo Perez stated his players had struggled to cope with the Anfield atmosphere when beaten in the Champions League last week, while Reds boss Andoni Iraola praised the home support after Sunday's hard-fought Premier League win against Brighton.
And asked if the impact of the Anfield crowd can be magical, Gakpo said: "It is. Everybody in the stands knows this as well, and when we have a little bit of momentum or we have a good moment then they get behind us with everything they have got.
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"I have to say it gives us energy which nobody thought they had. But it's very helpful and obviously we are very appreciative of that and we always try to give (something back).
"It was a tough opponent and we had to be super focused as there was no extra time and it went straight to penalties. We had a little bit of an advantage with the crowd and being at home.
"We knew penalties was a possibility and the coach said it as well so everyone took one (in training)."
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Joe Gomez netted Liverpool's final and ultimately decisive penalty in the shoot-out, his first goal of any kind during an Anfield career that is now in its 12th season.
And Gakpo said: "Unfortunately it wasn't official like in a game, but everybody saw how he shot the ball. It was very good and with confidence and I know from training that he can score goals. But his first task is being a defender."
Gakpo's penalty during normal time was his 11th in 14 appearances in the League Cup for Liverpool, with only Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Kenny Dalglish, Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon having scored more times in the competition for the club.
"That's not bad, huh?" said the Netherlands international, speaking to LFC TV.
"I was on penalties as Dom (Szoboszlai) was not here and Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) wasn't playing, so you're kind of hoping there is going to be a penalty and it happened. It hasn't happened that often this season so I was happy that it was me who could take it.
"The further you go in the tournament the closer it gets to the silverware. It's a competition that goes fast and you play the final at the end of March. It can give you silverware quickly and give the team a boost for the end of the season."