Liverpool Beat Chelsea on Penalties to Reach Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals

A 1-1 draw gave way to a long shootout at Anfield, where Wesley Fofana’s miss sent Liverpool through after Chelsea had led from the spot.

Chelsea’s cup run ended in the cruellest way: a 1-1 draw at Anfield, followed by a penalty shootout that Liverpool won 6-5. Wesley Fofana’s miss proved decisive, sending Liverpool into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and leaving Chelsea to rue a night when both goals came from the spot.

The match’s turning point arrived in a frantic exchange. Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moisés Caicedo, and Morgan Rogers converted the penalty to put Chelsea ahead. Liverpool’s reply came after Fofana handled the ball while trying to stop Virgil van Dijk reaching Kostas Tsimikas’ corner. Cody Gakpo made no mistake from 12 yards, restoring parity.

There was still time for chances before the shootout. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders produced an important save to deny Ronald Araújo’s header, then stopped Bradley Barcola. At the other end, Giorgi Mamardashvili kept out Marco Palestra’s effort, supplied by Rogers. The 1-1 scoreline held through the 90 minutes, leaving the tie to be settled from the spot.

The first 12 penalties brought no saves. Liverpool had successful efforts from Alexis Mac Allister, Alexander Isak, Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Barcola, while Joe Gomez also scored. Chelsea’s Valentin Barco hit the post. Tsimikas then had the chance to win it for Liverpool but sent his kick over the bar, extending the contest.

The goalkeepers finally intervened in consecutive attempts: Penders parried Gravenberch’s penalty, and Mamardashvili denied Emmanuel Emegha. Jordan Henderson then held his nerve for Liverpool amid jeers from the Anfield crowd. Fofana’s earlier miss had already put Chelsea under pressure; his wayward shootout effort settled the tie.

For Liverpool, the result brings another Chelsea knockout in a competition that has repeatedly delivered high tension between the sides. For Chelsea, the exit came after a match in which they had taken the lead but could not protect it. The goals were traded from the penalty spot; the decisive difference came when the shootout’s margin for error finally caught up with them.