Liverpool keeper Adam Bogdan insists he got lucky during penalty shootout win

Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan has played down his heroics
Bogdan saved three penalties during 3-2 shootout victory against Carlisle
The former Bolton custodian was making his competitive Liverpool debut

Published:
12:01 GMT, 24 September 2015

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Updated:
12:27 GMT, 24 September 2015

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Adam Bogdan says he ‘got lucky’ after the Liverpool back-up goalkeeper’s penalty shootout heroics saved manager Brendan Rodgers’ blushes.

Liverpool claimed a spot in the Capital One Cup fourth-round draw thanks to a laboured win against League Two outfit Carlisle.

The Northern Irishman’s side, who had failed to win their last five games in all competitions, eventually secured a 3-2 shootout victory at Anfield when Bastien Hery’s tame effort for Carlisle was easily saved by Bogdan.

Adam Bogdan was the hero for Liverpool as he saved three penalties – including this from Danny Grainger

Bogdan gets down well to deny Bastien Hery from the spot and send Liverpool through to the next round

Match-winner Bogdan walks away from the goal after making the final save against League Two side Carlisle

A sixth game without a win would only have increased the pressure on the under-fire Rodgers, on the back of a rising tide of resentment from the Anfield faithful.

Bogdan, who was making his competitive debut, danced along his line at each kick and stopped three of Carlisle’s five penalties after Derek Asamoah cancelled out Danny Ings’ opener and the two sides stayed deadlocked after extra-time.

‘There’s method in the madness,’ the Hungarian told the club website.

‘Sometimes you guess right, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t. I guessed the right way and got lucky with three shots. Thankfully we went through.’

Up next for the Merseysiders is Aston Villa’s visit to Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday and Bogdan is conscious of how important a victory is.

‘All the games are massive,’ the keeper said. ‘Every week in the Premier League there is no easy game.’

Summer signing Bogdan is joined by his Liverpool team-mates as they celebrate scraping past Carlisle

‘We have to concentrate on the next one, come in on Saturday, get the job done and win the game and move on.’

Recent history seems to favour Villa, as none of the last eight meetings between the teams has ended in a home win.

Rodgers could be without the services of midfielder Roberto Firmino and defender Dejan Lovren, who were both withdrawn with injuries against Carlisle.

Striker Christian Benteke has already been ruled out with a hamstring problem he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City at the weekend.