Liverpool and penalty shootouts: A brief history

There are few better teams than the Reds when it comes to penalty shootouts, having won 14 out of 17 in the club's history.

Liverpool have hoisted aloft two European Cups, an FA Cup, two League Cups and a Charity Shield by holding their nerve from 12 yards out.

Their first encounter with a shootout occurred in 1974 when Leeds United were the first victims of the Reds collective coolness from the spot at Wembley in the Charity Shield.

All of the players in red scored on that day, with Ian Callaghan slotting the decisive penalty to make it 6-5 and give the edge over Brian Clough’s side.

It would be almost 10 years until penalties were required to settle a game for Liverpool again, with just the small matter of the European Cup on the line.

In their home stadium, Roma crumbled under the pressure having been distracted by the actions of goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar. Their two penalty misses allowed for Alan Kennedy to deliver the Reds’ fourth European Cup.

But the club tasted its first defeat in a shootout in a fourth-round League Cup replay against Wimbledon back in December 1993.

After that loss, they went an astonishing 16-year unbeaten run of winning from the spot before falling to Northampton in the League Cup third round back in 2010.

During that incredible eight-win stretch, that famous night in Istanbul occurred with the 6-5 win on penalties over AC Milan in 2005 in the Champions League final at the Ataturk Stadium.

But the Reds weren’t as prolific in the same stadium nearly 10 years later, as last season saw Besiktas eliminate their visitors from the Europa League in the round of 32.

Earlier in that 2014-15 campaign, Middlesbrough and Liverpool netted a combined 31 penalties in the shootout that settled their third-round League Cup tie.

Simon Mignolet saved a penalty and scored one himself to help give the Reds a 16-15 victory at Anfield back in September 2014.

Liverpool journey to Wembley in this year’s Capital One Cup was kick-started by a test of nerve down in front of the Anfield Road end.

League Two side Carlisle United pushed the Reds all the way in the third round, only to be denied of a giant-killing by Adam Bogdan, who saved three penalties on that night in September.

The Reds have a 100 per cent record in League Cup finals from the spot, most recently lifting the trophy in 2012 following a successful shootout against Cardiff City.

Indeed, the 2006 FA Cup was also secured via spot kicks against West Ham United; however, supporters will be hopeful penalty kicks won't be required to see the club win a record ninth League Cup on February 28.