Liverpool Beat Chelsea on Penalties Yet Again to Reach Carabao Cup Last Eight

Some rivalries come with a curse. Chelsea walked into another penalty shootout at Anfield with a painful record against Liverpool, and it ended the same way. Wesley Fofana’s wild effort sailed into the Kop, sending Andoni Iraola’s side into a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth.

Fofana’s Miss Seals a Familiar Fate

Chelsea had faced Liverpool on penalties four times before and lost every one. Fofana’s effort, which flew high into the Kop, made it five out of five.

The pain stretches back through the 2007 Champions League semi-final, the 2019 Uefa Super Cup final and the FA Cup and League Cup finals of 2022. Anfield added a new chapter on a night when Chelsea had every reason to believe things might be different.

Penalties Trade Blows in Normal Time

Rogers Strikes First

Chelsea were awarded the first spot-kick when Moisés Caicedo was released by a cleverly disguised pass from Malo Gusto and clipped from behind by Ryan Gravenberch. Jordan Henderson, booed throughout, carried the ball to the spot with a wry smile and handed it to Morgan Rogers.

Rogers sent Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way with an emphatic finish.

Gakpo Hits Back

Liverpool had a penalty of their own within four minutes. Caicedo and Fofana challenged Virgil van Dijk at a Kostas Tsimikas corner, and the ball struck the Chelsea defender’s raised hand. Cody Gakpo converted confidently into the bottom corner.

Referee Darren England called both penalties instantly and correctly. The game was a better spectacle without a video assistant referee.

Goalkeepers and Defenders Hold the Line

Chances were scarce in a fast-paced, committed tie. Mike Penders, keen to atone for his costly error against Spurs, saved a flying header from Ronald Araújo at close range. He also kept out a low shot from Bradley Barcola that was heading for the bottom corner.

Joe Gomez supplied the cross for Araújo’s header and then worked tirelessly to chase back and block Rogers on the counterattack.

Late Chances Come and Go

Chelsea finished strongly, and Rogers was involved in several of their best openings. His perfectly weighted pass released Marco Palestra, but Mamardashvili produced an excellent save low to his right.

Florian Wirtz had a late chance to win it for Liverpool, but his attempt from Gakpo’s knock-down struck Levi Colwill and was cleared.

Controversy was avoided when Mamardashvili saved from Rogers, who had appeared to control Pedro Neto’s chip with his arm.

Shootout Drama at Anfield

The shootout was far from clean. Tsimikas blazed over with victory in sight, ruining the chance to repeat his Wembley match-winning role from four years ago. Gravenberch and Valentin Barco also failed to convert for Liverpool.

Emmanuel Emegha had the chance to win it for Chelsea in sudden death, but Mamardashvili denied him superbly.

Then came Gomez, who has never scored for Liverpool. He found the top corner of Penders’s goal in convincing style for the first shootout penalty of his Anfield career. Fofana could not match it.

Estêvão Stays on the Bench

With João Pedro injured and Cole Palmer suspended, Chelsea started with Danny Welbeck in attack and Henderson in an advanced midfield role. Estêvão was left on the bench all evening, a decision that looked mystifying.

What the Managers Said

Alonso admitted Chelsea were left with the sad side of a shootout. “We played with courage, the game was close with not many chances for both sides,” he said. He called it “a small setback” in what he described as the least important competition for his team, with Manchester United next on Saturday.

Iraola praised his players. “I’m pleased for the players because they put in a big effort tonight,” he said. “The players are feeling support from the crowd and now we have another big one on Sunday against Arsenal.”

Quarter-Final Draw

Liverpool will host Bournemouth, Iraola’s old club, in the last eight. Ties will take place during the week commencing 14 December.

For Chelsea, the focus shifts to a huge league clash. For Liverpool, another shootout win keeps their cup run alive.