Andoni Iraola made seven changes as Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup, with the Spaniard's team coming out on top in a penalty shootout at Anfield
Ronald Araujo and Andoni Iraola after Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup.
Ronald Araujo and Andoni Iraola after Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It wasn’t quite Bobby Clark, James McConnell, and Jayden Danns being thrown on by Jurgen Klopp in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley back in 2024, but the gamble of making changes was worthwhile for Andoni Iraola.
McConnell started here, alongside Lewis Koumas, and Liverpool's £100M-plus men were left on the bench. It was already the sensible call, but should Iraola's side win a sixth consecutive game in all competitions this coming weekend against Arsenal, then it will look even better.
The likes of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, and Florian Wirtz should all be well rested by the time Sunday comes around. And that, even more than getting through here, was the main prize.
It would be a stretch to say that McConnell and Koumas filled in with aplomb, but Chelsea was unable to get the better of Liverpool anyway. Roared on by a buoyant Anfield crowd with something to buy into, the Reds progressed.
Ryan Gravenberch and Trey Nyoni may never have a stranger game, with the latter in particular doing some excellent things followed by some terrible ones.
In several instances, Nyoni won the ball back superbly, reacting well and instinctively putting in a challenge, only to then gift possession away.
Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool from the penalty spot.
Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool from the penalty spot.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Another youngster, Rio Ngumoha, had moments down the left — typically, he managed to evade his multiple markers a few times — but he needed more support.
And Cody Gakpo was visibly frustrated with both himself and his teammates when he either miscontrolled the ball or was given a poor through pass.
"When you do the line-ups and the squads, you are not thinking, ‘In case it goes to penalties, I will leave the ones who shoot the penalties for the end'," Iraola said.
"No, you are trying to balance the team. We are changing a lot of the players because we need to change. We did seven changes today but even in the Champions League, which are very important games, we are doing always four or five changes."
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When Isak, Barcola, and Wirtz were introduced, they couldn’t really change the course of the tie, with Morgan Rogers the sole genuine threat for the visitors. Without Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, Xabi Alonso’s team lacked decisive quality in the final third.
Winning against the odds, though, and doing well in the domestic cups were key components of Klopp's most successful periods.
In the lottery of penalties, Liverpool prevailed here, the spot kicks mirroring the game in many ways. Some were excellent; others dire. A bizarre error followed one moment of quality.
The main thing, though, was that Liverpool got through while Isak, Wirtz, and Barcola were not overly exerted. The Reds will face Bournemouth next, with the Carabao Cup semis in touching distance.