By Sohaib Shams
Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday, following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
The match was decided when Wesley Fofana sent his spot-kick over the crossbar in sudden death, handing Liverpool the win after a shootout that saw the first 12 penalties converted.
Both goals in regulation time came from the penalty spot. Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moises Caicedo, and Cody Gakpo equalised when Fofana handled a corner.
The shootout produced high drama. After 12 successful kicks, Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders saved from Gravenberch, and Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili denied Emmanuel Emegha. Kostas Tsimikas then missed for Liverpool, but Jordan Henderson held his nerve to score amid jeers from the home crowd.
Alonso's Anfield return ends in defeat
For Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder who won the Champions League and FA Cup on penalties at Anfield, the loss continued a pattern: Chelsea have now lost all five penalty shootouts against Liverpool. Alonso's side, playing without suspended Cole Palmer and injured Joao Pedro, created few chances until late substitutions brought on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola.
Expensive bench, cautious start
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola kept his three £100 million signings on the bench for much of the game, introducing Wirtz and Barcola only in the final half-hour. The first half saw little open-play threat, with the first notable shot coming from Gakpo shortly before the break.
Penders impressed for Chelsea, making a crucial save from Ronald Araujo's header and later denying Barcola in the shootout. At the other end, Mamardashvili stopped Marco Palestra's effort. The result marked the third time in six seasons that Liverpool have eliminated Chelsea from the competition.
