Takumi Minamino (18) celebrates after scoring a late equalizer in Liverpool's League Cup quarterfinal against Leicester City at Anfield, Liverpool on Dec. 22, 2021. (Kyodo)

       LIVERPOOL, England (Kyodo) -- Japan international Takumi Minamino's injury-time equalizer helped Liverpool advance to the semifinals of the English Football League Cup 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Leicester City on Wednesday.

       Minamino provided the assist for Diogo Jota's 68th-minute goal at Anfield that brought the home side within one at 3-2. He then kept his team alive in the competition by firing home in the 95th minute, although he later missed in the penalty shootout.

       The 26-year-old Minamino extended his League Cup scoring streak to three games, earning effusive praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

       "Top goal, top performance," Klopp told liverpoolfc.com. "From a tactical point of view he is outstanding and it's so cool for him that he could score that goal. It was a great goal, it was very important, it was in the best possible moment."

       "He deserved this goal for all the things he did tonight and for all the things he did in the last few months and years."

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