Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after defeating Chelsea on penalties following a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Chelsea took the lead in the 40th minute through Morgan Rogers, who converted from the spot after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moisés Caicedo. Liverpool responded three minutes later, with Cody Gakpo levelling after Wesley Fofana handled the ball.
Both sides created opportunities after the break, but goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Mike Penders produced crucial saves to keep the scores level. Liverpool registered 10 shots, four on target, while Chelsea managed 11 attempts, also recording four on target.
The contest was eventually decided by a dramatic penalty shootout. Alexis Mac Allister and Pedro Neto converted the opening kicks, followed by successful efforts from Alexander Isak and Rogers. Gakpo and Roméo Lavia scored their attempts before Florian Wirtz converted for Liverpool, while Valentín Barco missed for Chelsea. Kostas Tsimikas then missed for Liverpool, but Jordan Henderson scored for Chelsea. Bradley Barcola and Levi Colwill converted, while Ryan Gravenberch and Emmanuel Emegha both missed. Joe Gomez scored Liverpool’s decisive penalty before Fofana missed Chelsea’s final attempt, sealing Liverpool’s victory.
The Reds advance to the quarter-finals, while Chelsea’s Carabao Cup campaign ends in disappointment.
