Liverpool edge Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after 1-1 draw as Fofana misses decisive Carabao Cup kick

Liverpool are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Chelsea 6-5 in a sudden-death shootout at Anfield on Wednesday, 28 October, the tie having finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who had also conceded the penalty that brought Liverpool level, lifted the deciding kick over the crossbar. The fourth-round match kicked off at 8pm UK time, which was 1:30am IST on Thursday.

The win belongs to Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool, as Goal and VAVEL identify him as the Anfield club’s manager; Chelsea, who were knocked out, are coached by Xabi Alonso, according to the London club’s own match report.

Two penalties in three minutes

Both goals came from the spot late in the first half. Chelsea went ahead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers converted after Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moises Caicedo, who had been released by a reverse pass from Malo Gusto. Liverpool replied about three minutes later: Fofana was penalised for handball while trying to stop Virgil van Dijk, and Cody Gakpo scored the penalty.

Neither goalkeeper was beaten again in open play. Chelsea’s Mike Penders kept out a header from Ronald Araujo, and Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili denied substitute Marco Palestra, according to the Yahoo Sports report. Chelsea made four changes from their previous league game, lost Lacroix to an apparent injury before half-time, and handed a debut to Danny Welbeck, as per the club’s report. Liverpool brought on Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola, Alexis Mac Allister and Alexander Isak from the bench.

How the shootout unfolded

The first six kicks were all scored, with Mac Allister, Isak and Gakpo matched by Pedro Neto, Rogers and Romeo Lavia. Wirtz kept Liverpool in front before Valentin Barco hit the post, but Kostas Tsimikas then put his attempt over the bar. Jordan Henderson had to score to keep Chelsea alive and did so, taking the contest to sudden death at 4-4.

Barcola and Levi Colwill both converted. Penders then saved from Gravenberch and Mamardashvili stopped Emmanuel Emegha, before Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool. Fofana’s miss followed, ending the shootout at 6-5. Yahoo Sports noted it was the third time in six seasons that Liverpool had eliminated Chelsea from the League Cup.

Quarter-final draw and other results

The quarter-final draw, made at Anfield after the game, sends Bournemouth to Liverpool. The other ties are Manchester City against Bradford City, Crystal Palace against Sunderland, and Fleetwood Town, who knocked out Arsenal on penalties on Tuesday, against the winner of Thursday’s Everton-Newcastle United tie. Goal and dave.sport report the matches will be played in the week beginning 14 December.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Manchester City drew 2-2 with Brighton and went through 4-3 on penalties, with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saving Brighton’s last two kicks. Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0 thanks to goals from Amine Adli, Lewis Cook and Alvaro Rodriguez. Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Fulham through Eddie Nketiah, and Sunderland held off Brentford 3-2.

Chelsea have little time to regroup. They host Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday, 31 October, at 12:30pm UK time (6pm IST).

Sources

• Chelsea FC: Match report, Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on pens)
• Yahoo Sports: Liverpool edge out Chelsea with penalty shootout victory in Carabao Cup
• Yahoo Sports (Anfield Index): Reds hold their nerve to reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals
• VAVEL: Liverpool vs Chelsea, Carabao Cup live coverage
• Sky Sports: Liverpool vs Chelsea match page
• Goal: Carabao Cup quarter-final draw in full
• dave.sport: Carabao Cup results, Liverpool and City through, quarter-final draw made