A disappointing final ended in favour of Manchester City following extra time and 3-1 win on penalties over Liverpool at Wembley.
Whether it was the midweek European exertions for both teams but this was not a classic final. Liverpool, appearing in their 12th League Cup final, enjoyed the majority of possession but lacked the guile to create clear cut openings.
City last won this competition in 2014 and probably had the better chances with Sergio Aguero being denied in the first half by a terrific save from Reds custodian Simon Mignolet. Yet it was the keeper who became villain of the piece with a terrible howler at the beginning of the second half.
Fernandinho shot from a tight angle and Mignolet somehow contrived to allow the ball to slip from his grasp and into goal. Former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling had two good chances to seal the game but was made to pay for his wastefulness when the Merseysiders levelled with seven minutes remaining.
Adam Lallana should have scored himself but hit the post from close range, however his blushes were spared as Philippe Coutinho hammered home the rebound from eight yards out.
Moment later Mignolet redeemed himself for his previous lapse by preventing a late City winner from Yaya Toure.
Extra time followed the same way as the preceding 90 minutes with Liverpool enjoying possession and City looking to score with a swift counter attack.
This tactic almost worked as Aguero shrugged off Lucas only for Mignolet to again deny the City striker. But then it was Liverpool who went close as Divock Origi's header brought the best out of keeper Willy Caballero.
And so it came to penalties and Liverpool had apparently won 14 of 17 shootouts in their history, but not this time as their feeble efforts meant Yaya Toure scored the winning spot kick as Mignolet went the right way but Manchester City won the cup 3-1 on penalties denying Reds boss Jurgen Klopp a chance to win his first English silverware
LIVERPOOL : 1 Coutinho 83 AET
MAN CITY : 1 Fernandinho 49
Man City win 3-1 win on penalties
Attendance: 86,206
