Albion 2 Liverpool 3

Albion’s run in the Carabao Cup was ended by the holders – and their wideman Cody Gakpo.

But the Seagulls showed some spirit against the holders.

Gapko’s second-half double gave the hosts too much of a rescue mission although goals from Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey – either side of a Luis Diaz effort – kept the crowd more than interested.

The clubs, though not these teams, meet again at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.

Albion made eight changes to the XI which faced Wolves, and Liverpool did likewise from their side at Arsenal.

Jason Steele captained the side with Brajan Gruda, on his full debut, and Julio Enciso among notable starters while Evan Ferguson looked to add to his goal on Saturday.

The Albion formation was as expected at teamsheet time with Julio Enciso playing off Ferguson and Gruda wide right, Adingra on the left.

Liverpool were knocking the ball about confidently early on and Steele a bit too confidently for home fans’ nerves as he was almost caught out in front of goal.

The Reds had most of the early possession but the first great chance was for Albion.

Lamptey was played clean through by Adingra and keeper Viteszlav Jaros was out to make a good block.

It was brilliant running off the ball by the right-back to get there but the finish lacked the precision he showed, for example, at Arsenal in this competition two years ago.

Liverpool countered immediately and Gakpo curled just wide of the far post.

Albion were struggling to get the ball forward and then retain it, usually managing to do either one or the other.

Enciso had a go from 25 yards. The dip and curl on his shot wrong-footed Jaros, who watched with some relief as the ball flew narrowly over the bar.

Liverpool’s response was some superb pass-and-move which took them from one end to the other.

Andy Robertson cut the ball back, Dominik Szoboszlai’s low shot was blocked by Steele and Luis Diaz headed the rebound narrowly wide.

Robertson got forward again on an under-lapping run and tried to find quite an inviting gap between the near post and Steele, who got his foot to the low shot and diverted the ball behind.

Gruda was offering occasional glimpses of his close control and good footwork.

But no one could find a breakthrough in the first half.

Liverpool took less than a minute to go ahead in the second period.

Lamptey had gone forward with Jakub Moder covering for him but, when the move broke down, Gakpo cut inside the Pole and flashed a sizzling finish across Steele.

Jaros denied Albion a rapid leveller as Lamptey beat two men and chipped over a precise cross. Adingra headed back across the keeper, who tipped it on to the post.

Then another chance as Ferguson turned well and fired off target.

Gruda curled just past the far post after more thrilling work down the right by Lamptey and the tie had come alive.

It was intended as a cross, no doubt, but Moder forced Jaros to tip over.

The resulting corner bounced around in front of goal and no one could turn it home.

But Liverpool, and Gakpo, struck again on 63 minutes.

After an Albion corner was cleared, Lamptey - as last man - miscontrolled, and Liverpool broke forward three versus one.

Szoboszlai took the final shot and Steele blocked. The reprieve was short-lived. Lamptey was robbed by Gakpo, who charged forward and thumped his shot past Steele.

That felt like game over – and thoughts on Saturday when van Hecke was among the players to depart among various substitutions which followed.

Albion never stopped battling and Adingra forced them back into the tie on 81 minutes from the rebound when Jaros repelled a Ferguson blast.

But Diaz found a gap inside the near post to make it 3-1, seconds after Steele did well to save a deflected effort, although there was still time for Lamptey to enliven the finale when his low shot deflected home as the game ticked into five added minutes.

Albion: Steele; Lamptey, van Hecke (Veltman 68), Igor, Kadioglu (Estupinan 46); Wieffer, Moder (Hinshelwood 68); Gruda (Mitoma 75), Enciso (Welbeck 76), Adingra, Ferguson. Subs: Verbruggen, Baleba, Ayari.

Goals: Adingra 81, Lamptey 90.

Liverpool: Jaros; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah (Konate 90+2), Robertson; Morton (Mac Allister 64), Endo (Nyoni 64), Szoboszlai (Nunez 71); Diaz, Gakpo (Salah 71), Jones. Subs: Kelleher, van Dijk,Tsimikas, Young.

Goals: Gakpo 46, 63, Diaz 85.

Yellow card: Endo, Konate Referee: Darren Bond.