Liverpool 4-2 Notts County

Could he, god forbid, knock him out? As it was, Apollo prevailed, just about, but nobody could begrudge Rocky for his titanic effort, especially when coming back down from an insurmountable position, and in the process, gained the respect and appreciation of the sporting world. Apollo tonight was played by Liverpool Football Club, while Notts County were sublime in their role as Rocky, taking the Premier League club into extra time and threatening a shock, before the Reds were able to finally labour to a 4-2 win against the Magpies. Chris Kiwomya began in a 4-4-2 formation, with new signing Enda Stevens, a loanee from Aston Villa, in the left-back position, while Gary Liddle, Manny Smith and Muzzy Dumbuya completed the defence. David Bell, Joss Labadie, Mark Fotheringham and JCR were in midfield, while Callum McGregor was pushed up front alongside Yoann Arquin.

For Liverpool, their starting line-up was a signal of intent that they were taking the competition seriously, fielding Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure and Daniel Sturridge in their starting 11.

Things did not start well for Notts, as the first chance for the Reds, in the fourth minute, was also their first goal. Raheem Sterling, the highly-rated England youngster who terrorised the Scotland Under 21s just two weeks ago, weaved through the Pies defence, before firing a shot which slipped past Bartosz Bialkowski's grip. 1-0 Liverpool.

The first twenty-five minutes were virtually all Liverpool, and included chances from Gerrard and Sturridge, while a free-kick from the Reds skipper was smashed against the post by the head of Daniel Agger, subbed on after an injury to Aly Cissokho. When Notts enjoyed their first spell of possession on twenty-six, the passes were greeted with enthusiastic "OLE!"s from the travelling contingent. Manny Smith had a half-chance which went straight to Reds keeper Simon Mignolet, while at the other end, Jordon Ibe and Sterling threatened the Notts goal.

On the half-hour mark, it seemed like Notts' night was crashing around them, as Liverpool got their second. Gerrard, unplayable at the best of times, played a beautiful defence-splitting through ball to Sturridge, who then smashed it past Bart. 2-0, and I won't lie, the words "Spain versus Tahiti" began flashing into my head. Notts would be lucky not to concede any more in the first half, as the defenders stepped it up a gear - JCR was playing like a man possessed, both in attack and in defence, while Liddle was responsible for a great charge down against Toure. Then, Bart's amazing reaction stop on 34 denied Agger a certain goal. Dumbuya's miscontrol on 37 allowed Liverpool to break through, but Liddle's intervention denied them, an action whereby he was lucky not to have given away a penalty. The final meaningful chance saw Gerrard smash the ball against the post on 40.

The second half saw Notts make an effort to retain possession, which worked well to unsettle Liverpool. For a while, the Reds lost their groove and couldn't manage more than a few half-chances. On the hour, Notts stepped it up a gear. McGregor was responsible for winning the first of two corners, before attempting a powerful long shot which was saved. Just two minutes later, a foul on Labadie led to a free kick just outside the box. Then it happened. Smith's superb latch-on from the Fotheringham free kick was met by the head of Arquin, and so the ball went into the Liverpool net. 2-1, Liverpool rattled, Notts ecstatic at having breached the Premiership side's clean sheet and seeing where they could go on from there.

From then on it was a very even game, Toure once again striking the post on 69, while Sturridge chanced a header from yet another great Gerrard ball.

This would carry on until the 82nd minute. When something even greater happened. Dispossessing Liverpool in their own half, Notts played a wonderful passing game, getting the ball from McGregor over to Arquin on the right hand side, before the striker advanced deep into the Liverpool box and playing a loose chip-cum-cross into the path of Adam Coombes, who smashed it through the Reds rearguard... and so it was 2-2. Cue raucous celebrations from the home fans and disbelief from the wider world of football fandom and punditdom.

And so the game would end all square... except League Cup games are decided on the night. And so the team with history and prestige couldn't beat Liverpool in 90 minutes... extra time it was to be.

An even first half of extra time, where the only action of note was the injury to Toure, was sadly ended with a tame shot from Sturridge which trickled through Bart's fingers from a tight angle, while the second half saw Jordan Henderson finally apply the finishing touch to Liverpool's hard-fought victory with a burst through the Notts defence followed by a placed shot.

4-2 was the final score, but for the sheer fact that Liverpool had to go to extra time, the result not assured until the 110th minute, shows just how deep Notts County dug and how far they pushed Liverpool, particularly when you consider the home side were cruising at 2-0 after thirty minutes. An amazing atmosphere, an amazing match, and an amazing night for all fans concerned.