Joe Allen received high praise from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Wednesday night.

The Welsh midfielder coolly slotted home the winning penalty to give the Reds a 6-5 shootout win in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield.

Allen came on as a second half substitute before stepping up to take the final spot-kick and his efforts were certainly not lost on a proud Klopp.

"We only decided the first five [takers], but we recognised that Joe usually should shoot," said the German.

"We already had five, but there was no real decision – he [Allen] took the ball and not only because of the Arsenal goal.

"He is a really, really good boy, a good lad, and it's not the most easy of situations sometimes for players if you are in good shape – which he obviously is – but you don't play from the beginning or in matches like this.

"He came in, he is a really good character, and he did well. He decided the game for us."