England full-back Nathaniel Clyne scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool beat AFC Bournemouth 1-0 in their League Cup clash at Anfield on Wednesday.
Clyne – who has eight senior England appearances to his name – hit the winner on 17 minutes, firing home after Joao Carlos Teixeira’s cheeky back-heeled effort was cleared off the line.
And that proved to be enough for the Reds, despite England Under-21 star Jordon Ibe impressing after being handed a start along with U20s midfielder Cameron Brannagan.
Boro's Ben Gibson shows his passion after scoring one of their penalties in the shoot-out win over Manchester United
Meanwhile, England trio Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missed their efforts from the spot as Manchester United were dumped out of the competition on penalties by Middlesbrough.
Despite the introduction of Rooney at half time, Louis van Gaal's side could not find a way past the Championship outfit in normal time, plus 30 minutes extra, as the tie ended 0-0.
It went down to penalties and after Grant Leadbitter scored, Rooney missed United’s first. David Nugent then missed from 12 yards for Boro and Andreas Pereira scored for the hosts, but Carrick and Young both missed and Stewart Downing and former U21s defender Ben Gibson held their nerve to send Boro through.
Elsewhere, Scott Sinclair’s last-gasp penalty wasn't enough for Aston Villa as they exited the competition after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Southampton.
Maya Yoshida gave the Saints a 1-0 lead before the break before Graziano Pelle doubled the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
Sinclair – who made seven appearances for England U21s – added an injury-time penalty after Jordan Ayew was fouled but it was too little, too late.
Manchester City hit Crystal Palace for five as the home side won 5-1 to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Wilfried Bony put the Premier League leaders in front when he powered in a header, before Belgian Kevin De Bruyne slotted home a second at the far post.
De Bruyne then set up provider Kelechi Iheanacho, who fired in the third before Yaya Toure made it 4-0 from the spot.
Damien Delaney headed a consolation for the visitors before Manuel Garcia slotted in a late fifth.
