Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Chelsea on penalties at Anfield, extending their remarkable record in shootouts against the London club.
After 90 minutes finished 1-1, with Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo scoring from the penalty spot, it was Liverpool who held their nerve when it mattered most. The Reds survived a tense shootout to send Xabi Alonso and former captain Jordan Henderson home disappointed on their return to Anfield.
It was another big night under Andoni Iraola, who has now guided Liverpool into the last eight and kept their hopes of silverware alive.
Two penalties settle a tense contest
Iraola made seven changes from the side that beat Brighton 2-0 at the weekend, giving several players an opportunity to impress ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League meeting with Arsenal.
Chelsea also rotated, with Alonso making four changes to his starting line-up. Henderson was among the starters, returning to the ground where he once captained Liverpool, while the suspended Cole Palmer and injured Joao Pedro were unavailable.
The opening stages offered little in the way of clear-cut chances, but the match burst into life shortly before half-time.
Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moises Caicedo inside the penalty area, leaving referee Darren England with little option but to point to the spot. Henderson initially collected the ball amid boos from the home supporters, before Rogers took responsibility and calmly sent Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way.
Chelsea had the lead, but their advantage lasted barely three minutes.
Wesley Fofana handled inside the box at the other end, giving Liverpool the chance to respond immediately. Gakpo stepped up and made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Mike Penders the wrong way to level the contest.
It was the Dutchman’s 11th goal in the competition, and a timely contribution that ensured Liverpool went into the break on equal terms.
Liverpool push for a winner
Chelsea were forced into a change before half-time, with an injured Maxence Lacroix making way for Levi Colwill.
After the interval, Liverpool gradually increased the pressure. Iraola introduced Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola just before the hour mark, looking to inject more creativity and pace into the attack.
The changes helped Liverpool carry a greater threat, although Chelsea remained dangerous on the counter-attack.
Penders produced two excellent saves to deny Ronald Araujo and Barcola, keeping Chelsea in the tie when Liverpool looked capable of finding a winner.
At the other end, Marco Palestra forced Mamardashvili into an important save of his own. Neither goalkeeper was prepared to give anything away, and despite both sides having opportunities, the decisive goal never arrived.
With no extra time in this round, the tie went straight to penalties.
Mamardashvili and Fofana decide the shootout
The shootout delivered the drama that the closing stages of normal time had promised.
Valentin Barco struck the woodwork for Chelsea, while Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas blazed his effort over the crossbar. Henderson then kept Chelsea in the contest by converting his penalty against his former club.
Penders subsequently denied Ryan Gravenberch, leaving the outcome hanging in the balance.
But Mamardashvili came up with a crucial save to keep out Emmanuel Emegha, before Joe Gomez stepped up and confidently found the net for Liverpool.
That left Fofana needing to score to keep Chelsea alive. Instead, the defender sent his effort soaring over the crossbar, sparking celebrations around Anfield.
Liverpool had done it.
The victory marked their fifth consecutive penalty shootout win against Chelsea, underlining just how often these two clubs have produced nerve-shredding encounters in cup football.
The reward is a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Anfield against Bournemouth, Iraola’s former club.
My verdict: Another big night for Iraola’s Liverpool
For me, getting through is what matters most.
Liverpool were not at their most fluent, and there were moments when Chelsea threatened to take control of the tie. But the Reds showed resilience, stayed in the contest and ultimately held their nerve when the pressure was at its highest.
Mamardashvili deserves plenty of credit for his decisive save, while Gomez did his part when Liverpool needed someone to step forward. Gakpo’s penalty was equally important, preventing Chelsea from taking a half-time advantage into the dressing room.
It was also another valuable opportunity for Iraola to manage his squad, with Arsenal waiting at Anfield on Sunday. Reaching the quarter-finals without needing extra time is a welcome outcome, particularly with another demanding fixture just around the corner.
There is still work to do in the league, but cup competitions offer Liverpool a genuine opportunity to build momentum and compete for silverware. Iraola will know that better than most, and this victory keeps that dream alive.
Alonso will be disappointed. Chelsea had their chances to win the tie, but they could not take them when it mattered. For Liverpool, the celebrations were well deserved.
Bournemouth next, but Arsenal is already looming
Liverpool can now look forward to a quarter-final against Bournemouth, with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.
However, attention will soon turn to Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal. That will be a much bigger test of Liverpool’s progress under Iraola and an opportunity to show that the defensive resilience and fighting spirit displayed against Chelsea can carry into the Premier League.
For now, though, the Reds can enjoy another cup victory over a familiar rival.
Liverpool are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals — and the journey towards silverware continues.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
### _Related_