Liverpool overcome Chelsea on penalties again to reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals

Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties at Anfield to advance to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, The Guardian reported. The shootout added another defeat to Chelsea’s record against Liverpool from twelve yards: they had previously lost four such contests, including the 2007 Champions League semi-final, the 2019 Uefa Super Cup final and the FA and League Cup finals in 2022. The match finished level after both teams scored penalties in normal time.

Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead from the spot after Moisés Caicedo was brought down in the Liverpool area, before Cody Gakpo equalised after the ball struck Wesley Fofana’s raised hand at a corner. The Guardian said referee Darren England awarded both penalties immediately and correctly. Neither side created many clear chances in an otherwise fast-paced and committed tie.

Chelsea’s Mike Penders saved a close-range header from Ronald Araújo and later denied Bradley Barcola, while Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stopped a late effort from Marco Palestra. Mamardashvili had earlier denied Emmanuel Emegha during the shootout. Liverpool had opportunities to end the contest before the final kick.

Kostas Tsimikas shot over, while Ryan Gravenberch and Valentin Barco also failed to convert. Chelsea’s Emegha could have won the tie in sudden death but was stopped by Mamardashvili. The decisive moment came when Joe Gomez took Liverpool’s first shootout penalty.

The long-serving defender, who the report said had never scored for Liverpool, struck into the top corner for his first successful penalty at Anfield. Fofana then sent Chelsea’s attempt high over the goal, allowing Liverpool to progress. The result was a painful one for Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso after a home defeat by Tottenham on the preceding Saturday, although The Guardian described Chelsea’s performance as improved.

Alonso said the outcome was not wanted or expected, but called the competition probably the least important for Chelsea and said the team would turn its attention to Manchester United on Saturday. Liverpool’s manager Andoni Iraola praised the effort of his players and said he could feel togetherness within the squad. The quarter-final draw gives Liverpool a home tie against Bournemouth, with matches scheduled for the week commencing 14 December.

The Guardian also noted that the absence of video assistant refereeing contributed to a flowing spectacle, while a possible handball in another attack did not lead to controversy because no goal followed.