Ngog 116      Jacobs 98

Liverpool suffered the shock of this season’s Carling Cup competition when they succumbed in an Anfield penalty shoot-out to League Two Northampton.

The Cobblers were four minutes from winning the tie in extra-time and were comfortably more proficient from the penalty spot.

Liverpool’s David Ngog and Nathan Eccleston both missed from 12 yards. And though Northampton’s Steve Guinan also failed, Abdul Osman sent Reds’ keeper Brad Jones the wrong way with his coolly-taken right-footed effort.

Matters started in regulation fashion when Milan Jovanovic’s left-foot shot from Daniel Agger’s pass put Liverpool ahead on nine minutes.

But the second-string selection, completely re-vamped from Sunday’s EPL defeat at Old Trafford, failed to add a second.

And the Cobblers were level eleven minutes after half-time when Billy McKay lashed home Kevin Thornton’s knockdown from Liam Davis’ left-wing cross.

Eight minutes into extra-time, Northampton took the lead in front of the Kop, Michael Jacobs forcing home the rebound after Thornton’s shot was diverted into his path.

Liverpool’s blushes were, momentarily, saved by David Ngog’s downward header from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner on 116 minutes.

But Ngog soon turned villain when he missed the opening shoot-out penalty. And there was no way back for the Reds.