Liverpool advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after defeating Chelsea in a penalty shootout at Anfield on Wednesday night. The match ended level at 2-2 after normal time and extra time, with Liverpool eventually prevailing on penalties, continuing Chelsea’s history of shootout defeats to the Merseyside club.
Chelsea’s penalty struggles against Liverpool deepened as Wesley Fofana missed the decisive spot-kick, sending his effort high over the crossbar. This marked the fifth time Chelsea have lost on penalties to Liverpool in recent years, adding to defeats in the 2007 Champions League semi-final, 2019 UEFA Super Cup final, and the 2022 FA and League Cup finals.
The shootout featured several missed opportunities from both sides. Chelsea’s Emmanuel Emegha was denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in sudden death, while Kostas Tsimikas narrowly missed for Liverpool. Other misses included attempts by Chelsea’s Ryan Gravenberch and Valentin Barco. Joe Gomez stepped up to score Liverpool’s first-ever penalty of his Anfield career, placing the ball confidently in the top corner. After Fofana’s miss, Liverpool sealed the shootout victory.
Chelsea manager Andoni Iraola expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, highlighting the squad’s unity and determination. “I’m pleased for the players because they put in a big effort tonight,” he said, noting the importance of crowd support as Liverpool prepare for a subsequent league fixture against Arsenal.
Chelsea's Xabi Alonso acknowledged the disappointment of the result but described the Carabao Cup as a lower priority for the club this season. “Once you go to penalties there has to be a sad side,” Alonso said, adding that the match was closely contested with few clear chances and emphasizing the team’s focus on upcoming important Premier League fixtures. Alonso also faced questions over his team selection, as Estévaõ remained on the bench throughout, with injuries and suspensions limiting other attacking options.
The match itself was a fast-paced and physical contest, characterized by tough defensive play and limited goal-scoring opportunities. Chelsea took an early lead when Morgan Rogers converted a penalty after Moisés Caicedo was fouled inside Liverpool’s box. Liverpool responded quickly, earning a penalty of their own when Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have handled the ball following a corner. Cody Gakpo scored to level the match.
Both teams had notable chances during the 90 minutes. Liverpool goalkeeper Mamardashvili made key saves, including blocking a close-range header from Ronald Araújo and a low shot from Bradley Barcola. Chelsea, meanwhile, showed improvement after substitutions, with Rogers providing several promising attacking moves but were ultimately unable to secure a winner before penalties.
The match was notable for the referee Darren England’s decisive calls, awarding both penalties without recourse to the video assistant referee, which was absent from this fixture. The game thus proceeded uninterrupted by video reviews, although one moment involving Rogers’ potential handball was carefully managed after a key save prevented any controversy.
Liverpool will face Bournemouth in the quarter-finals, while Chelsea must now turn their attention to their Premier League encounter with Manchester United on Saturday.