Divock Origi has forced Arsenal boss Unai Emery to regret his own words after Liverpool advanced into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Origi stunned the Gunners when he sent the tie to penalties in the fourth minute of injury time, completing what looked like an unlikely comeback.
Despite the Reds getting off to a perfect start when Shkodran Mustafi put the ball into his own net, three quickfire goals from Lucas Torreira and a brace from Gabriel Martinelli put the visitors in total control.
James Milner reduced the arrears from the penalty spot before the interval but Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ strike nine minutes restored the Gunners’ two-goal cushion.
But Liverpool soon levelled through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi, before Joe Willock fired the visitors back ahead.
And that was the way it stayed until the fourth minute of stoppage time when Origi netted his second of the night to send Anfield wild.
Before Caoimhin Kelleher was the Reds’ hero in the shootout saving Dani Ceballos’ spot kick.
But it was Origi’s heroics that prevented Emery from securing victory via a favoured scoreline.
Speaking after being appointed Gunners boss in May 2018, the Spaniard admitted he preferred to win 5-4 rather than 1-0 as he outlined his approach.
“I like the possession with the ball, I like good pressing against the other team. I prefer to win 5-4 than win 1-0,” the former Seville boss told arsenal.com last year.
And Emery was within seconds from doing so at Anfield until Origi, like he so often does when it matters, turned the ball home.
Liverpool fans were quick to find those quotes and point out how close Emery came:
Liverpool are now in the hat for the quarter-finals of the cup, along with Everton, Manchester United and five other teams.
The Reds will learn their opponents just before 9am today when the draw is done live on BBC Radio 2's breakfast show.
You can follow live updates of the Carabao Cup draw in our dedicated blog here.
