Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool's "incredible" character allowed them to learn from their mistakes and secure a memorable Carabao Cup comeback.
The Reds beat Leicester City 5-4 on penalties in their quarter-final on Wednesday at Anfield after coming from 3-1 down at half-time to draw 3-3 thanks to Takumi Minamino's dramatic injury-time equaliser.
Liverpool had been outplayed in the first half before Klopp made a series of changes at half-time and during the second half to help transform his team's performance.
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But the Reds boss is adamant key to victory was the indomitable spirit shown by his players, who have now lost just once in their last 36 games.
"I loved them before but I fell in love again because it's such an incredible character that they show more often than not," said Klopp. "It's absolutely insane.
"I'm so happy about this performance, even the first half.
"To develop, you have to make mistakes, and we made mistakes first half, we played exactly in the spaces they wanted us to play. That makes no real sense but how can you learn it? That's how it is.
"We made some changes in the second half but it's still not easy to turn a game around like this with all the momentum Leicester had in the first half. But what the boys did then, wow, outstanding."
Teenage trio Conor Bradley, Billy Koumetio and Tyler Morton all started the match but were replaced at the interval by senior players James Milner, Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konate.
Owen Beck, another Academy graduate, made his second senior outing as a substitute late on and his cameo drew praise from Klopp.
"Owen Beck played 15 minutes - wow, what a talent," said the Reds boss. "Conor Bradley is an incredible player, but first half passed two balls maybe he shouldn't play, but he learned he will not play them again.
"Tyler had a proper yellow card so we had to make that change. Billy played really good but it was not easy when you lose the balls in those areas, for a centre-half it's not easy.
"We had Ibou then, and it was clear he could go for 45 minutes so we had to decide first or second half, we decided second and in the end it worked out."
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Klopp added: "It's a special group, absolutely special. The young kids coming up, really breathing in all the things from the more experienced boys, and how the more experienced boys deal with them."
