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Would it be great to win the EFL Cup? Sure. Will any result be fine in the Quarterfinals after that awe-inspiring Fourth Round effort in the win over Norwich City? Absolutely.
Leeds United topped Norwich last night in penalty kicks after fighting back, down a man and a goal, in the second half of extra time. It was the sort of win you tell all your friends about, even the ones that don’t care about Leeds football (if you have any of those).
For this blogger, it was probably my favorite win of the decade. I really can’t say enough about it. Guts, passion, and genuine, heartfelt excitement from all the players after Ronaldo Vieira’s kick went in. And against a team we truly hate... all the better.
So tonight’s draw was important, but for me, kind of an icing on the cake. I don’t think anyone expects Leeds to win the now-rebranded League Cup, but there were certainly some juicy possibilities for the Quarterfinal draw.
Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester City were all knocked out in the round of 16, but Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United (of course) remained as possibilities. So too did West Ham, Southampton, Newcastle, and Hull, but the vast majority of our readers wanted a big-budget club to travel to Elland Road, and of those, there was one clear wish:
Really close result in that 1st poll, looks like our readers want a big-budget club. We'll do another poll, bet this one's a landslide: Who?
— Through It All #LUFC (@ThruItAllLUFC) October 26, 2016
So what happened? Well... 23% of you should be excited, based on that.
#EFLCup Quarter-Final draw: @LFC v @LUFC. pic.twitter.com/JPZ1KRGKsW
— EFL Cup (@EFLCup) October 26, 2016
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool FC. Alright then. A trip to Anfield will certainly excite many, as we get the most dramatic of the Quarterfinal matches. Manchester United drew West Ham at home, Arsenal landed Southampton at the Emirates, and Newcastle United travels to Hull City in the most boring of the four.
The #EFLCup Quarter-Final draw:@LFC v @LUFC @ManUtd v @WestHamUtd @HullCity v @NUFC @Arsenal v @SouthamptonFC
— EFL Cup (@EFLCup) October 26, 2016
Ties played w/c Nov 28. pic.twitter.com/pQ1CINaN26
So what can we expect from Liverpool? Good lord, it’s going to be something. We’ll have a full reaction and preview here at Through It All Together soon, but I’m excited enough.
How did our Leeds-loving friends respond?
Marco Silvestri wanted Liverpool away. The draw delivers for him. Fantastic tie but seriously tough. #lufclive
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) October 26, 2016
So we're off to Anfield, about as tough a draw as we could get, but what a day that will be, will surely be on Sky too #lufc #lufclive
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) October 26, 2016
Liverpool/Leeds comfortably the tie of the round. Two famous clubs who have not won the league titles in my lifetime.
— Amitai Winehouse (@awinehouse1) October 26, 2016
I'm buzzing with that, let's be honest, we aren't going to win the cup. Rather go out with a fight against Liverpool & focus on the League
— We Are Leeds (@weareleeds_) October 26, 2016
We might as well go out swinging at Anfield than lose to someone like Hull. Bring it on! #lufc
— I'd Radebe Leeds (@Radebe_Leeds) October 26, 2016
Whenever we think of a Leeds v Liverpool game this amazing match always comes to mind. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/Wzv4fVeyDm
— RightInTheGaryKellys (@RITGK) October 26, 2016
Piece. Of. Piss. #LUFC
— The Square Ball (@TheSquareBall) October 26, 2016
As I said, it’s icing on the cake for me. A fun evening in November at Anfield, a chance (albeit slim) to upend Klopp and a top team in the Premier League on international television... yeah, I’ll take that. It’s not Manchester United at Elland Road, but maybe we get that in the semi-finals.
And then of course, there’s this...
The last time we welcomed @LUFC to Anfield, we faced a young James Milner! #ClassicLFC pic.twitter.com/uiyLfJT2wp
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 26, 2016
Fine. Let’s take care of Milner, Coutinho, Sturridge and Karius on the road (or Liverpool’s B team, let them underestimate us) and announce our coming back party to the rest of the world. MOT.