Brendan Rodgers hailed the two Academy graduates who stood as tall in stature as any player on the park on a night when penalty shootout-inspired chaos reigned supreme at Anfield.

Jordan Rossiter, who started the game against Middlesbrough, and Jordan Williams, who demonstrated immense courage to slam home in the spot-kick contest, will not forget this whirlwind night in a hurry.

Rossiter's was the name on everyone's lips prior to kick-off, when it was announced he would make a first start for the club in the Capital One Cup clash - and after 10 minutes he planted the ball in the back of the net to open the scoring.

The youngster's goal was cancelled out by Adam Reach just after the hour mark, but Suso fired Liverpool back into the lead in the 19th minute of extra-time.

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Patrick Bamford's last-minute penalty forced a shootout, during which Williams stepped up with the pressure on to fire in front of the Kop before Liverpool clinched a dramatic 14-13 victory.

"Tonight was a good night for our young players," Rodgers told reporters during his post-match press conference. "Young Jordan Rossiter could walk to Anfield; he just lives round the corner. I was delighted for him. He got the opportunity and showed wonderful composure to get his finish.

"I was also impressed with young Jordan Williams, he came on and showed really good stature and composure in the game. He is a wonderful footballer and a young player that is developing well.

"I think all the young kids from our U8s and U9s at the Academy now - and all the Academy coaches - will look at that tonight.

"They know anyway, through my work, that I will always look to them because my job is to grow the top-class young talents, not just to buy them in. We want to try and grow them here, or else there's no point in having a youth Academy.

"So for Rossiter to come in and play and score was fantastic for him. The other young kids who weren't involved are getting good experience. Tonight is a great night in their step towards playing for the first team regularly, hopefully."

The two debutants faced a tall order as they took their first strides on the famous Anfield turf. Middlesbrough arrived on Merseyside in impressive form and were determined to provide an upset.

And while Rossiter made it look easy when he steered the ball through a thicket of rooted black shirts on the 10-minute mark to seal a fairytale start to his Liverpool career, Boro were far from finished in the tie.

Twice they fought back to stun the home crowd. Reach netted after the hour mark before Bamford held his nerve from the spot in the very final moments of extra-time to take the game to penalties.

Sandwiched in between the visitors' goals was a strike from Suso, the Spaniard, who arrived as a second-half substitute to rifle home what Kopites thought would be the winner in front of the Kop.

"A mention for young Suso," insisted Rodgers. "He hasn't had a lot of game time but he has kept working every day and I thought when he came on he was really bright for us and took his goal really well."