Brannagan: It was a crazy moment

With two minutes left on the clock at Langtree Park, Brannagan profited from confusion within the Foxes’ penalty area to settle the tie.

After two Leicester defenders failed to clear Joe Maguire’s low cross, the midfielder darted in to send the ball looping over the opposition stopper and into the net.

It was a first victory of the season for Michael Beale’s charges, and Brannagan was a happy man following the final whistle.

“It was a crazy moment!” he told Liverpoolfc.com. “I just pressed the ball and luckily enough it hit me and went into the net.

“It was great for us to get our first win of the season and I’m pleased for the lads because we dug in well.”

Brannagan was playing his first minutes since being handed a first-team debut by Brendan Rodgers when he appeared from the bench during the Europa League draw in Bordeaux.

For the 19-year-old, who has been at the Academy since the age of five, the cameo in France is an achievement he will cherish.

Brannagan added: “It was a proud moment for me and my family. I just want to kick on now and try and achieve as much as I can.

“Every time we get a chance to come down to Melwood we have to work hard and show what we can do.”

Goalkeeper Ryan Fulton was another hero on the night for Beale’s charges, as he made a superb penalty save to deny Harry Panayiotou.

After being included in the first-team squad for the pre-season tour of Thailand, Australia and Indonesia, Fulton was named on the bench for the Capital One Cup tie with Carlisle United last week.

Reflecting on that moment, he said: “It was a dream come true for me.

“I have played at Anfield for the U21s but when you are out on the pitch warming up before the game in front of a big crowd it was breath-taking.

“I’ve got to challenge myself in training everyday alongside Simon Mignolet and Adam Bogdan, and I just need to keep working hard and improving every day.”