As defeats go this was about as frustrating as they come and Liverpool's season is now in danger of becoming tortuous on recent evidence.

While the Reds' finishing was again tame, Leicester were ruthless as second half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani put them into the fourth round.

But it was a scarcely believable outcome at the break as the visitors battered Leicester.

Yet Liverpool, without a win in four games now, failed to put away Burnley in a 1-1 draw at the weekend at Anfield, where they had 35 shots on goal.

Here again, despite a further 21 efforts on goal, Jurgen Klopp's men lacked a cutting edge.

Attacking left-back Andrew Robertson put over several tantalising first half crosses.

Jurgen Klopp was furious after Liverpool crashed out of the Carabao Cup (
Image:
Plumb Images/Leicester City/Getty)
(
Image:
REUTERS)
Slimani celebrates the second (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

But Liverpool dearly missed the suspended Sadio Mane, plus the absent trio of Mohamed Salah , Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge.

Without them no-one could provide the breakthrough as Alex Oxlade Chamberlain had a full debut to forget.

It left Leicester in the game at the interval when the tie should have been over.

The hosts then punished Liverpool as sub Okazaki fired in on 65 minutes to break the deadlock.

Slimani sealed the Foxes' progress with a brilliant left-foot screamer into the top corner 12 minutes from time.

Klopp, who made eight changes, admitted he felt “sick” afterwards as he was forced to justify his costly half-time call to replace Philippe Coutinho with teenager Ben Woodburn.

But Klopp promised both he and Liverpool will have rediscovered their poise when they return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League.

Philippe Coutinho proved himself over 45 minutes (
Image:
Plumb Images)
But it was Leicester who reaped the rewards (
Image:
Matthew Lewis)

The German said: “I lost more games in my life unfortunately and believe me or not , tomorrow morning I am fine and yes, we will come back, and I will be before the game in a better shape for sure.”

New £35million signing from Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain, nearly got on the scoresheet in the opening minutes.

But Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell made a crucial block after Robertson rolled the ball across the box.

From the corner Dominic Solanke wriggled clear and dragged a shot wide of the post in a bright start.

Klopp's men continued to create the better chances as Ben Hamer denied Coutinho.

Brazilian midfielder Coutinho tested Hamer again in the 16th minute with a low shot from outside the box.

Liverpool dominated possession with Leicester content to try and hit them on the break using Demarai Gray's pace.

Solanke, signed from Chelsea this summer, had another sniff of goal in 22nd minute as he diverted Robertson's cross over.

Philippe Coutinho puts on the afterburners (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Robertson also flashed a left-foot cross-shot across the face of goal four minutes later.

Hamer was called into action again in the 30th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain cut in from the right and drilled in a low left-foot shot straight at him.

But despite the visitors' dominance, they somehow failed to make a breakthrough in the first half.

Woodburn,17, replaced Coutinho for the second half with Klopp insisting he couldn't risk playing the Brazilian any longer following his recent return to the side.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a full debut to forget (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

It helped Leicester, who were overrun in midfield first half, improve once Okazaki replaced Leonardo Ulloa, who had a head injury.

His introduction had a big effect as he helped Leicester gain more possession and get up the pitch.

It led to the Japanese striker opening the scoring in the 65th minute.

Marc Albrighton's corner was lofted back into the box by Chilwell before Wes Morgan headed it across goal as Liverpool's defence failed to push up.

Vincente Iborra then knocked it down to Okazaki to take a touch and smash a low right-foot shot into the corner.

Okazaki's goal was his fourth in his last seven appearances, more than in his previous 33 combined.

Slimani ensured victory with a thunderous left-foot finish for his third goal in the competition this term after more good work from Okazaki from a throw-in.

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