Caoimhin Kelleher dons armband as Liverpool progress in Carabao Cup

Caoimhin Kelleher captained Liverpool for the first time, as the Reds closed out a 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup third round at Anfield.

With Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold absent for the night, the substitution of stand-in captain Curtis Jones led to Kelleher taking the armband for the final 10 minutes of the game.

The night started off poorly for the Corkman though, as Kasey McAteer fired the Foxes in front in only the third minute, before sustained pressure from Jurgen Klopp's side eventually told, with Cody Gakpo levelling before Dominik Szoboszlai came off the bench to put them in front with an unstoppable shot in the 70th minute.

Diogo Jota added a third in the 89th minute and it was no less than Liverpool, winners of this competition a record nine times, deserved after they poured forward in response to the early setback, having 27 attempts at goal in all.

McAteer’s early goal remained Leicester’s only shot on target by the final whistle.

Jurgen Klopp had made 10 changes to the side that beat West Ham 3-1 at the weekend to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League campaign but Enzo Maresca, whose side are top of the Championship as they eye an instant return to the top flight, matched him with just as many.

And the in-form visitors silenced the windswept Anfield crowd as a Liverpool free-kick turned into a Leicester goal.

Kostas Tsimikas' delivery was punched clear and the Greece defender was left in a heap by Marc Albrighton as Yunus Akgun raced clear before slipping the perfect ball into the path of 21-year-old academy product McAteer, who had time to pick a spot for his fifth goal of the season.

A Liverpool response was guaranteed, but Wataru Endo, making his third start