Everton required a penalty shootout win over Norwich City to book their place in the quarter-final of the League Cup.
Following a rather uneventful first half, Sebastian Bassong fired the visitors into a deserved lead 51 minutes in at Goodison Park.
Leon Osman was able to level things up on the hour and, with no further goals to come, extra time was required on Merseyside following the 1-1 draw.
Both teams created further chances, but a fine performance from stand-in Everton keeper Joel Robles ensured that penalties would be needed to separate the top-flight pair.
It was the Toffees who held their nerve, coming out on top 4-3 to book a place in the next round.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the entertaining match below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the League Cup fourth-round meeting between Everton and Norwich City at Goodison Park.
Both of these sides may have struggled for form in the Premier League in recent weeks, but attention now turns to domestic cup duties as they look to book a place in the fifth round. It may still be too early to think about Wembley at this stage, but victory tonight and the famous arch will be one step closer.
Kickoff under the floodlights at Goodison Park is less than an hour away now, so let's get straight into things by checking out some team news.
TEAM NEWS!
EVERTON XI: Robles; Oviedo, Funes Mori, Stones, Browning; Gibson, McCarthy, Mirallas, Osman; Kone, Lukaku
NORWICH CITY XI: Rudd; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Mulumbu, O'Neil, Odjidja; Hoolahan; Grabban
So Roberto Martinez certainly not taking the League Cup lightly, then, having named a pretty strong squad for this one - especially compared to the opposition's. Joel Robles comes in for Tim Howard as expected, while Phil Jagielka misses out through the injury picked up last time out.
Arouna Kone and star striker Romelu Lukaku are both handed starting roles up top, while the full-back slots are occupied by Tyias Browning and Bryan Oviedo. Central midfield is perhaps not as strong, with Darron Gibson and Leon Osman both included, but all-in-all this is a decent-looking Everton lineup.
The big news as far as the visitors are concerned is that Youssouf Mulumbu comes in for his full Norwich debut. The midfielder picked up an ankle injury on the eve of the new season, meaning that he makes his Canaries bow this evening at Goodison Park, some four months after initially joining.
Andre Wisdom and Martin Olsson have been selected in the full-back berths, while the silky Nathan Redmond also starts further forward in midfield. Lewis Grabban is tasked with leading the line this evening, meanwhile, ahead of Wes Hoolahan in an advanced number 10 position.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBS: Howard, McGeady, Lennon, Naismith, Deulofeu, Barkley, Galloway
NORWICH CITY SUBS: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Jerome, Jarvis, Dorrans, Lafferty
Looking at the Everton bench goes a long way to highlighting that point I made a little earlier about Roberto Martinez taking this competition seriously. Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu, Aaron Lennon and Steven Naismith are all among the back-ups, providing the Toffees boss with plenty of options should they be required.
Diemerci Mbokani has been struggling with illness recently and therefore misses out on the Canaries' squad altogether. Northern Ireland hero Kyle Lafferty makes the bench, but he will perhaps feel disappointed to have been overlooked in favour of Grabban. Cameron Jerome is also among the back-ups this evening, along with midfielder Graham Dorrans.
Romelu Lukaku is one of three Everton players to keep his place in the starting lineup this evening, along with James McCarthy and John Stones.
So eight changes in all for Everton, then, but a very strong squad on the whole. That is perhaps down to the fact that Roberto Martinez is desperate to regain some momentum domestically speaking, having seen his Toffees side pick up just two wins from their last eight league outings.
Successive defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal, coming immediately on the back of the recent Merseyside derby stalemate against Liverpool, has seen Everton slip into the bottom half of the table. They have had a difficult run-in so far, though, making a run of wins hard to come by.
The good news for Everton is that they have some nice fixtures to come between now and the new year, with a load of bottom-half teams to face. They will have to navigate through those games without influential captain Phil Jagielka, however, after losing the centre-back to injury.
Martinez feared losing his skipper for the remainder of the season through an ACL injury, sustained after what he described as a "stupid and needless" challenge by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the defeat to Arsenal last weekend. The Englishman is likely to miss no more than nine weeks, though, which means that he should return for the new year fixtures.
That does put even more of a spotlight on centre-back partner John Stones to succeed in his absence. Stones is now the go-to man, so to speak, with the Ramiro Funes Mori still learning his trade in English football. That partnership could blossom over the next couple of months, so it is worth keeping a close eye on it this evening.
DID YOU KNOW? Everton have lost six-consecutive fourth-round home matches in the League Cup. That is an incredible run stretching back all the way to 1987, which they will be looking to put right against the Canaries this evening.
While Everton may have struggled to pick up a win over the past few weeks, it has been a similar case for Norwich - albeit against weaker opposition. The Canaries have now lost their last three games, including a 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion last time out, to leave themselves just three points above the drop zone.
Throw into the mix a rather comical 6-2 thrashing at the hands of an otherwise winless Newcastle United, and perhaps alarm bells are starting to ring at Carrow Road. Questions have certainly been asked of manager Alex Neil for the first time, which explains why he has decided to rest a few key players tonight.
It is now no win in their last five league outings, but a credible 1-1 draw at Anfield did provide some hope. Norwich are just two places above the bottom three and, with a trip to face Manchester City this weekend, they may just see their solid start completely unravel.
Victory on Merseyside this evening against a strong Everton side will provide supporters with a massive lift, but it will be a big ask after conceding nine in their last three games. Momentum is hard to come by at the moment, so perhaps this could provide the stepping stone to success further down the line.
Alex Neil's side have failed to win any of their last five top-flight matches, but they have had better success in the League Cup.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These sides have met twice before in this competition, sharing one win apiece. They last came face to face in 1987 when Everton prevailed to avenge their previous defeat from 10 years beforehand.
Overall, this will be the 50th appearance between the two top-flight teams; Norwich winning 14 of the previous encounters compared to their opponents' 18 victories. That means 17 of their encounters have ended all square, which would lead to extra time and possibly penalties this evening if that proved to be the case once more.
Norwich have already overcome one fellow Premier League outfit to progress in this competition, having eased past West Brom in the last round. Prior to that 3-0 thrashing, they edged past Championship side Rotherham United 2-1 in their round-two fixture.
It has been an easier passage through for Everton - on paper, at least - as they navigated past Football League duo Barnsley and Reading in rounds two and three. That set up this intriguing tie this evening, with the winner moving one step closer to a Wembley date.
With a little over five minutes to go until kickoff, let's get the views from both camps heading into this game:
Ross Barkley: ""We haven't won anything for a while and we've had a couple of good results in the competition so far and hopefully we get the result against Norwich that will put us through to the next round."
Alex Neil: "The league is our bread and butter. That is the most important thing for us this year. We want to do well in the cup but if you are prioritising then the league is most important."
PREDICTION! Right, it is time to offer a pre-match prediction. As a neutral I am simply hoping for an entertaining match, but looking at the two squads there is only one winner for me - Everton. Roberto Martinez, and indeed Ross Barkley going by those quotes below, has said all the right things in the build-up and I think his team will be well fired up tonight.
Both sets of players are now out on the field, captained by Leon Osman and Gary O'Neil this evening, with kickoff now just moments away. There is something special about a game under the floodlights at this historic ground, so let's hope for a contest to match the occasion.
The setting for tonight's League Cup fourth-round tie between Everton and Norwich City.
KICKOFF! The home side get proceedings underway at Goodison Park, sporting their traditional blue and white strip.
Norwich have started this cup tie the better, forcing a couple of early corners which ultimately come to nothing. Some uncertainty inside the box allowed debutant Mulumbu to get a shot away, which was blocked aside.
A really decent spell for the visitors, as Funes Mori only half-clears Hoolhan's centre. Everton not looked too great in these early stages but it remains all square at the moment.
Grabban's shot from a narrow angle forces another corner, as Norwich continue their early dominance. Everton just unable to get their foot on the ball at the moment, being pegged well back into their own half.
Hoolahan whips in a fine corner into the back-post area, which Odjidja cannot quite direct on goal. Rather poor defending from the set-piece as far as the Toffees are concerned.
SAVE! A promising Norwich move culminates in Hoolahan getting a shot away, which Robles managed to get a touch to. City really are dominating things in these opening 10 minutes or so.
Mulumbu is looking impressive on his full debut, volleying an attempt behind for yet another corner. Can Norwich make this pressure tell? Everton supporters aiming to rally their side now following this slow start.
Everton showing signs that they are coming out of their shell a little now, as Osman is first crowded out after being played in by Lukaku before Funes Mori tries his luck from 35 yards.
A little more evenly balanced on Merseyside now following Norwich's very bright start, but still Everton have been unable to truly get a grip on things. Plenty of time for that to change, of course, with over 70 minutes still to go.
Rudd is quick out to collect the ball ahead of Mirallas, who looked to be on the end of Gibson's searching bass. Still goalless as we approach the 20-minute mark at Goodison Park.
SAVE! Browning plays in Lukaku, but Rudd is quick off his mark and is able to keep out the shot with his feet. Best opening of the game so far for either side.
YELLOW CARD! Mulumbu appears to have been shown the game's first booking for a challenge in the build-up to that Lukaku chance.
Hoolahan's handball gives Everton a chance to get the ball forward, but there is no way through. The Toffees have certainly recovered from that shaky start, which saw Norwich dominate possession in the opening 10 minutes.
No way through for either side, but Everton have improved since the opening stages. Lukaku has squandered the best opening so far.
Great team move from the hosts, as Gibson, Oviedo, Mirallas and McCarthy all get involved, but Lukaku could not get a telling touch on the end of it. Much better from the Toffees over the last 15 minutes or so.
Back to the evenly-matched feel to the game now, as both teams take it in turns to knock the ball about. I know it is still early on, but extra time and penalties already seems inevitable.
Some good Norwich pressure in and around the Everton box, ending with Mulumbu's cross being blocked behind for a corner. The Canaries are certainly getting plenty of chances to swing the ball in.
A real scare for Norwich - and Bassong in particular! Kone snatched the ball off the defender and played Lukaku clean through, but the referee felt that the Everton man made too much contact with Bassong.
Really patient play from Everton, working the ball to the right, left and back again. A free kick is all they have to show for their efforts, though, which ends right in the welcoming hands of Rudd.
Six minutes to go until the interval and we are still a long way off the opening goal. Everton have plenty of attacking options on the bench, of course, so no time to start panicking just yet.
Still just the one shot on target, being provided by Lukaku, with neither side truly able to make their mark on this largely disappointing first half.
SAVE! It is a decent attempt by Odjidja, who works a shooting position inside the area and aims one for the top corner. Robles gets a touch to the ball to help it over, though, ensuring that this one remains goalless.
Norwich certainly ending this half on top, taking control of possession much like they did in the opening 10 minutes. Just the one minute of added on time, so unlikely to see a breakthrough prior to the interval.
SHOT! Another decent Norwich effort to see out this half, with Hoolahan getting an attempt on target that was simple enough for Robles to get behind.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 0-0 NORWICH CITY
Not the greatest 45 minutes you are likely to see this season, granted, but the good news is that it can only really get better in the second half. Clear-cut chances were kept to a premium, with four shots on target in all.
Norwich had the better of the opening 10 minutes and the final five minutes or so of the first half, without truly troubling Robles. That said, the stand-in keeper did have to remain alert to keep out a couple of efforts, the best of which was angled in by Odjidja.
Rudd had very little to do up the other end, bar keeping out one Lukaku attempt with his feet. This game does look as though it has a goal in it, but for large pars of the first half extra time and penalties seemed inevitable.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBS: Howard, McGeady, Lennon, Naismith, Deulofeu, Barkley, Galloway
NORWICH CITY SUBS: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Jerome, Jarvis, Dorrans, Lafferty
Changes are unlikely at the break, but it is Roberto Martinez who has a more varied selection to choose from. Kyle Lafferty and Cameron Jerome provide the visitors' best chance of getting off the mark, so this could be one decided by the decisions made from both managers.
The two sets of players are now back out on the field, with kickoff in this second half just moments away.
RESTART! We are back underway at a wet Goodison Park, where the deadlock has yet to be broken. No changes made by either manager at half time, so it is as you were in that respect.
Everton looking to start this half on top, but Lukaku - forced into a wide position - swings a rather poor cross into the box which evades everyone and goes straight out of play.
Some good play by Norwich inside the opposition box but, like so often this evening, there is no end product to show for it and Everton are able to clear their lines. This game is desperate for a goal.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-1 NORWICH CITY (SEBASTIAN BASSONG)
We have lift-off at Goodison Park! It is as simple as you like for the Canaries, as a half-cleared corner is swung back into the box from the left where Bassong is left free to turn the ball home from close range. Poor defending from the Toffees.
It was Bassong's shot which led to the initial corner in the build-up to that goal, incidentally, so the centre-back is proving to be the best attacker on the field at the moment.
O'Neil sees his half-volley well blocked. That was heading for goal if not for Funes Mori, with Everton supporters starting to get a little irritated now.
CHANCE! Mirallas is played in behind but gets caught in two minds. The shot was certainly on, albeit from a wider angle than he would have liked, yet in the end it was more of a shot-cross which Lukaku could not get on the end of.
Around 32,000 here this evening - a fantastic attendance for a League Cup tie - and they let John Stones know what they make of his poor diagonal pass which ends right in the hands of Rudd.
Roberto Martinez appears to be readying a couple of players to come on - and not a moment too soon. He would have liked to have rested the likes of Deulofeu and Barkley, but that is not going to be the case as his side chase a leveller.
EVERTON SUBS! Browning can consider himself unlucky as he departs the field. Barkley is on in his place, meaning three at the back now, while Deulofeu comes on for Kone. That latter change is actually met by a few jeers around Goodison Park.
A little scrappy at the moment, but Everton do have a different beast on the field now in the shape of Barkley. The Englishman can drive the ball forward, while Deulofeu's trickery has already earned his side a corner.
Deulofeu has looked very lively since coming on, reaching the byline and getting a cross in that is cut out by Rudd. Everton are a lot stronger now, and still have 25 minutes to find an equaliser.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 NORWICH CITY (LEON OSMAN)
Yet again in the League Cup, Deulofeu proves to be the shining light for Everton. The Toffees have been knocking on the door since his arrival, seeing one Lukaku effort saved off the line, before the ex-Barcelona man picked out Osman in a central position for the veteran midfielder to find the net. Not the cleanest of strikes from seven yards out, but it matters little.
CHANCE! Everton are closing in on a second and, if not for Bassong's superb clearance, it would be 2-1 to the home side. Oviedo swung a cross in from the left following some nice play, but the Norwich defender got to the ball ahead of Lukaku.
We have a proper cup tie on our hands at Goodison Park now, with the home supporters well behind their side. The Toffees have all the momentum, but as things stand we are heading for a period of extra time.
SAVE! Well the momentum may have been with Everton, yet Robles has just pulled off another decent stop to ensure that his side remain level. Grabban's header was heading for the back of the net, but the Toffees stopper got a big hand to the ball to push it over.
Now it is Everton's turn to break up the other end, but this time Deulofeu's bad decision making sees what was a decent attacking move come to a quick halt. Osman could not get the ball out of his feet after being picked out, firing an effort high and wide in the end.
NORWICH CITY SUB! Mulumbu has done well on his full Norwich debut. The summer signing lasts just short of 80 minutes before being replaced by Dorrans. Some fresh legs in midfield for the visitors now, as we enter the final stretch.
CHANCE! Another glorious Everton chance passes Lukaku by, as he gets under Oviedo's cross and heads over the target when left free just a few yards from goal. The Toffees looking the more likely to find a winner in normal time at the moment.
The ball bounces around Everton's box, before Gibson finally heads clear. The hosts have not looked great at the back this evening, which is a real worry with Jagielka two months away from making a return.
UPDATE! Chelsea and Arsenal are both heading for a fourth-round exit this evening, losing away at Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, so the League Cup will really open up. If that does not provide some added incentive in these closing six minutes then I don't know what will.
Leon Osman cancelled out Sebastian Bassong's earlier opener, meaning that we are locked at 1-1 heading into the final few minutes of normal time.
SAVE! Robles has been by far the busier of the two keepers, this time pushing over Olsson's long-range drive. The full-back was allowed to push closer and closer to the box, before finally getting in a shot that Robles was equal to.
SAVE! Mirallas steps over a free kick 25 yards from goal, picking out the top corner beautifully... at least that would have been the case had Rudd not got across to tip it over with a superb save.
Half a chance for Osman to win it as the ball breaks nicely for him inside the box, yet he could only drag his attempt wide. Thrilling end to this contest, with another 30 minutes seemingly left to come.
SAVE! It is yet another unbelievable save from Robles - who has surely just won the number one shirt from Tim Howard. Some patient build-up from Norwich ends with the keeper getting a one-handed save to Grabban's header. Fantastic stop!
Two minutes of added time to come, with a goal now enough to win this time. Everton are awarded a free kick on the halfway line providing a chance to boot it forward.
John Stones goes to ground and looks in some pain, but after a quick breather he is back to his feet. Still time for a winner here.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 1-1 NORWICH CITY
So extra time awaits at Goodison Park, with nothing to separate the sides at the end of that pulsating game of football. The first half was far from a classic, but the second 45 minutes gave us plenty of entertainment.
Sebastian Bassong fired Norwich into a deserved lead, but as soon as Leon Osman levelled up Everton were in the ascendency. The Toffees had chances to win the game, yet it was Joel Robles who was by far the busier of the two keepers by pulling off a number of superb saves.
EXTRA TIME UNDERWAY! Let's just hope the next 30 minutes are as exciting as the last half-hour of action. Three of the night's four games will go the distance, incidentally, with Sheffield Wednesday the only confirmed team through.
Extra time often provides cagey affairs, with neither time willing to make any potentially costly mistakes, and that appears to be the case here judging by the opening couple of minutes.
Incidentally, Norwich made a change during that quick turnover - Whittaker replacing Wisdom at full-back. Plenty of tired legs out there already, which does not bode all that well with 26 minutes to go.
Everton have slipped back into the sloppy mode that we witnessed in the first half. Redmond is allowed to get a cross in from the right, which bounces out of play at the back post.
CHANCE! The first chance of extra time falls to Mirallas, who is usually so calm and composed in these positions. Played through on goal, the wideman can only prod the ball wide when put under some pressure.
EVERTON SUB! That Mirallas miss has proved to be his last meaningful action, with Naismith now on in his place. That should worry a few of those tired Norwich defenders.
All very pedestrian at the moment, which is understandable. Everton need to look to get the ball to Naismith and the relatively fresh legs of Deulofeu.
CLOSE! So very close to an opener; Redmond floating a delightful ball into a central position for second-half sub Jarvis to head just inches wide. Norwich looking much sharper than their opponents.
Redmond plays Grabban through on goal, only for Robles to again keep the attempt out. The offside flag was already up, but replays show that was perhaps the wrong call - not that it mattered in the end.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: EVERTON 1-1 NORWICH CITY
Norwich edged that 15-minute half, creating one good chance in particular which Jarvis headed wide. Mirallas also had a decent opening for the hosts, but he poked wide when played through.
RESTART! This is it, then - 15 more minutes to separate the sides or else we go to the dreaded pens.
Norwich look to break only for McCarthy to cut out the attacking move. I think Everton would probably take penalties at the moment, because it is the visitors who just look to have that little bit more sharpness.
James McCarthy being challenged by Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe during the second half of normal time at Goodison Park.
Norwich, sensing that their opponents are tiring by the minute, look to patiently play their way through to no avail. A quarter-final beckons for one of these two sides, but who will be in the proverbial hat?
Everton are desperate for that full-time whistle. Norwich win a corner which signals five home players to put their hands to their knees - they are completely finished. From the set-piece, Redmond curls one narrowly over.
Norwich break four men on three, but McCarthy does brilliantly to get back and win possession for his side. Four minutes to go and the Canaries are really knocking on the door.
Up the other end, Lukaku is forced to take a shot on early inside the box, firing high into the stands with his tired attempt.
Half a chance for Funes Mori to win this match right at the death for the home side. A free kick was whipped into the box and, under pressure, the centre-back got his name to the ball but could only head over.
SHOT! Well if we were nine minutes in, as opposed to 119, chances are this would have ended in the back of the net. Lukaku is picked out inside the box with his back to goal, but on the turn he can only fire wide.
Barkley gives the ball away which always Olsson to swing in a cross. It is cleared behind for a corner, meaning one last Norwich chance.
CHANCE! Oh my word! Norwich fail to find a way through at the corner and Everton break five on three. Naismith forces Rudd into a save before Barkley fires over from the rebound when well positioned. How costly could that period of play prove to be?
END OF EXTRA TIME: EVERTON 1-1 NORWICH CITY
Incredible conclusion to this fascinating game of football. It finishes all square at Goodison Park, so we now have the lottery of a penalty shootout.
A League Cup quarter-final berth is up for grabs for the winning side here, with Arsenal already one casualty this evening and Chelsea themselves facing a shootout at Stoke.
Right, here we go! The penalties will be taken at The Gwladys Street End, which is a big psychological boost for the Toffees.
PENALTY SCORED: EVERTON 0-1 NORWICH CITY (DORRANS)
Dorrans sends Robles the wrong way to put Norwich ahead in the penalty shootout.
PENALTY SCORED: EVERTON 1-1 NORWICH CITY (DEULOFEU)
The ex-Barcelona ace does likewise and sends the keeper the wrong way to level up.
PENALTY SCORED: EVERTON 1-2 NORWICH CITY (WHITTAKER)
An experienced head keeps the scoring run going.
PENALTY SCORED: EVERTON 2-2 NORWICH CITY (BARKLEY)
A fine penalty from the Englishman to level things up once more.
PENALTY SAVED! EVERTON 2-2 NORWICH CITY (HOOLAHAN)
Hoolahan's penalty is saved by Robles! What a huge moment that could be.
PENALTY SCORED! EVERTON 3-2 NORWICH CITY (LUKAKU)
Advantage Everton, as Lukaku tucks his pen away.
PENALTY SCORED! EVERTON 3-3 NORWICH CITY (GRABBAN)
A fine penalty under pressure from Grabban to prolong this shootout.
PENALTY SCORED! EVERTON 4-3 NORWICH CITY (GIBSON)
No mistake from Gibson; Everton on the brink of the quarters.
PENALTY MISSED! EVERTON 4-3 NORWICH CITY (REDMOND)
Redmond misses his spot kick! Everton are through to the final eight of the League Cup!
EVERTON WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES!
Incredible scenes at Goodison Park! Everton were second best on the night, but it is they who will grab a place in the hat for the quarter-finals. They were completely out on their feet at the end, yet Norwich could not find a way through and their failure to capitalise has cost them.
With Arsenal and Chelsea both exiting the competition this evening, a path to Wembley has now well and truly opened up for the Toffees. What a fantastic game of football, played between two sides who gave it their all in the end.
Well that concludes our live text coverage of tonight's League Cup coverage, but be sure to join us tomorrow with another set of fixtures to be played at the same time. See you then!
