| Alberto Aquilani made his debut as a second-half substitute in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the Carling Cup - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our post-match phone-in.
The Italian international played the final 13 minutes of the fourth round clash but could not stop the Gunners from booking their place in the last eight after Emiliano Insua's first for the club was sandwiched by Fran Merida's stunning opener and Nicklas Bendtner's second-half winner.
Having seen off League One leaders Leeds United in round three, a trip to the Emirates to face Arsene Wenger's talented youngsters was always going to be a stiff test for a much-changed Liverpool line-up.
Out went the majority of the heroes from Sunday's 2-0 success over Manchester United as Rafael Benitez brought in nine new faces.
Goal-hero David Ngog was rewarded with a starting berth alongside Andriy Voronin in attack and he looked like a potential match-winner as Liverpool enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.
A slick move on three minutes almost provided Dirk Kuyt - named as skipper for day - with the opener, but he volleyed off target after the young Frenchman had crossed from the right.
The Reds looked intent on stamping their authority on the game and another passage of flowing football five minutes later saw Ngog back heel into Philipp Degen's path, but the full-back saw his outside of the foot shot arrow inches past the post.
The hosts had barely had a look in but should have been ahead on 16 minutes when the one-touch creativity that has become a hallmark of Arsenal's play saw Bendtner exchange passes with Eduardo before fluffing his lines six yards from goal.
The Emirates faithful were quick to show their frustration at the Dane for squandering such a good opportunity, but just three minute later they were on their feet in celebration of the opener.
Voronin lost possession deep in Liverpool territory, allowing the Gunners to work the ball to Merida, who turned on the edge of the area and crashed an unstoppable piledriver into the top corner via the upright.
It was a significant blow for Benitez's young charges, but they responded in the right manner and found themselves level seven minutes later, courtesy of an unlikely source.
A long ball forward by Martin Skrtel was nodded into the path of Insua by Babel. The left-back was quick to surge on to the header and, with the single-minded approach of a striker, unleashed a dipping volley that flew over Lukasz Fabianski and underneath the crossbar.
Half an hour played, a sublime strike apiece and we now had a cup tie that was beginning to warm up nicely.
Liverpool were enjoying the best of the possession but it was Arsenal who could and probably should have restored their lead just before the interval.
First Samir Nasri beat Cavalieri to a loose ball before seeing his clipped effort headed to safety. From the resulting corner the home side were presented with an even better opening, but Bendtner drilled straight at the Reds stopper after he was left in acres of space at the far post.
With just two minutes left of the half, the hosts came even closer, failing to turn home following an almighty goalmouth scramble. Eduardo, Mikael Silvestre and Bendtner all had the chance to stab home inside the six yard box, with the ball eventually falling into the grateful arms of Cavalieri.
After surviving a mini onslaught, the Reds needed to regain their composure in the second period, but as the game began to stretch from end to end, the Gunners manufactured an opening that finally saw Bendtner take an opportunity and put Arsenal ahead on 50 minutes.
Merida cut in from the left touchline and fed Aaron Ramsey, whose first touch instantly released Bendnter. The gangly forward held off the challenge of Skrtel before thumping a shot beyond Cavalieri into the roof of the net.
It was a goal that could so easily have knocked the stuffing out of the Reds, but once again they came back strong.
A magnificent four man move involving Voronin, Degen, Kuyt and Spearing ended with the Ukraine international holding off a challenge before firing just shy of the far post.
Babel then tested Fabianski with a thunderous free-kick as the visitors pressed.
The introduction of Yossi Benayoun and Aquilani - a much anticipated debut - bolstered the Reds' hopes of forcing extra-time and they should have snatched a second equaliser on 80 minutes.
Kuyt found space on the right hand side of the area and crossed low into the six yard box for Babel, who somehow failed to connect with the goal at his mercy.
Aquilani then had his first effort in a red shirt easily saved by Fabianski and Voronin forced a fine stop from the Gunners' stopper.
Benitez gave it one last throw of the dice by introducing Nathan Eccleston for his full debut, but it wasn't to be and the Reds must now turn their attention to Saturday's important Barclays Premier League clash at Fulham.
Teams
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Insua, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Babel, Plessis, Spearing, Kuyt (captain), Voronin, Ngog. Subs - Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Sanchez Ayala
Arsenal: Fabianski, Gibbs, Senderos, Silvestre (captain), Gilbert, Merida, Ramsey, Eastmond, Nasri, Bendtner, . Subs - Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Randall, Sunu, Szczesny, Watt
Referee: Alan Wiley
Conditions: Warm
Attendance: 60004
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Emiliano Insua
Breakdown
19:48 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Arsenal get this Carling Cup tie underway
2 mins : Early possession from Arsenal in the middle of the field
3 mins : Ngog crosses from the right and the first chance of the game falls to Kuyt, but the Dutchman drags a shot wide
5 mins : Ramsey charges forward with the ball but Skrtel clears for Liverpool
6 mins : Plessis and Ramsey are down after a clash of heads
9 mins : Great chance for Degen inside the Arsenal box from Ngog's pass, but the Swiss full-back pokes his shot wide of the far post. Golden opportunity for the opener
10 mins : Nasri is felled on the edge of the area. Easy decision for the ref, it's a free kick on the edge of the box
12 mins : The free kick is curled wide and from our next attack Spearing has a shot blocked. Good game so far
17 mins : Eduardo and Bendtner combine in the area but Arsenal overplay the ball and the Liverpool goal survives
19 mins : GOAL! Fran Merida: Merida opens the scoring with a stunning drive from the edge of the area into the top corner
23 mins : Good ball from Voronin to Babel, but the Dutchman fails to control in the area and Arsenal clear
26 mins : GOAL! Emiliano Insua: Sensational equaliser from Insua as he drives a volley into the roof of the Arsenal net
31 mins : Babel drifts past Senderos down the left and wins a corner. We're playing well now
36 mins : Good defending by Skrtel to concede a corner after excellent play from Ramsey
37 mins : Bendtner has a chance from a tight angle but can't beat Cavalieri
42 mins : Good defending from Degen as Nasri finds space down the right and sends a low cross into the area
43 mins : Incredible goalmouth scramble eventually results in Bendtner wasting a great chance as Cavalieri makes the stop
44 mins : Plessis tries his luck from long range and wins a corner
20:34 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:50 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second period underway at the Emirates
48 mins : Ngog crosses from the right towards Spearing but the ball drifts away from the goal
49 mins : Babel loses the ball but it runs free to Spearing who blasts a shot wide
49 mins : GOAL! Nicklas Bendtner: Arsenal regain the lead as Bendtner shakes off Skrtel's challenge and fires home
53 mins : Great play from Nasri down the right and he drives in a low cross which no-one in a red shirt can capitalise on
54 mins : Really good play between Voronin and Degen results in a shot just missing the far post by inches
56 mins : Kuyt wants a free kick as Fabianski appears to handle the ball outside the area - but the ref says no
61 mins : Aquilani is warming up - could his first team debut be iminent?
64 mins : Voronin is fouled 25 yards from goal giving us a free kick in a good area
65 mins : Babel drives it low and hard but Fabianski is up to the challenge of stopping it
67 mins : Skrtel needs treatment after a clash of heads
72 mins : Plessis' shot from distance is deflected over
74 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for David Ngog:
75 mins : Spearing goes for goal this time from long range but can't hit the target
75 mins : Substitution: Mark Randall for Craig Eastmond:
76 mins : Substitution: Sanchez Watt for Nicklas Bendtner:
76 mins : Substitution: Alberto Aquilani for Damien Plessis:
79 mins : Kuyt's cross is crying out for a tap-in from Babel - but he misses it!
80 mins : Eduardo escapes down the left and fires low and hard past the far post
81 mins : Voronin's low shot is saved - it's real end to end football now
82 mins : Stunning cross-field pass from Aquilani almost creates a goalscoring chance
85 mins : Substitution: Francis Coquelin for Fran Merida:
87 mins : Substitution: Nathan Eccleston for Philipp Degen:
89 mins : Aquilani's long pass towards Kyrgiakos is too strong
21:39 GMT : Match Over
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