Liverpool advanced to the League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night after defeating Chelsea 6-5 in a tense penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
In a matchup pitting childhood friends and rival managers against each other, Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola claimed bragging rights over Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. The victory marked Alonso’s third consecutive defeat as an opposing manager at Anfield, following earlier losses while coaching Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, AFP reported.
Late first-half drama from the spot
Both managers rotated their squads, with Iraola making seven adjustments following a weekend victory over Brighton and Alonso making four changes following Chelsea’s loss to Tottenham. The match was largely subdued early on until defensive miscues ignited the contest late in the opening half.
Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch committed a foul on Moisés Caicedo inside the box. Morgan Rogers stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a composed penalty kick, producing the game’s first attempt on target.
The visiting lead lasted merely three minutes. A Chelsea corner defense collapsed when Wesley Fofana committed a handball in the box. Cody Gakpo converted the resulting spot kick in the 43rd minute to bring Liverpool level right before halftime. Chelsea also suffered an injury blow before the break when central defender Maxence Lacroix departed with an apparent hamstring problem.
Goalkeepers duel before sudden-death finish
Without extra time in the tournament’s fourth round, the fixture went straight to a shootout after an open second half in which goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Mike Penders made key saves to preserve the deadlock.
The shootout swung dramatically in sudden death. Valentín Barco struck the post for Chelsea, but Kostas Tsimikas subsequently failed to clinch the tie when he launched his effort over the crossbar. Penders then stopped Gravenberch’s attempt, giving Chelsea a chance to secure the victory, but Mamardashvili denied Chelsea substitute Emmanuel Emegha to keep the hosts alive.
After Liverpool defender Joe Gomez converted his penalty, Fofana capped a difficult evening by sending his shot high over the crossbar into the Kop, sealing Liverpool’s triumph.
“We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important,” Iraola said, as reported by AFP. “We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday.”
Alonso lamented the outcome while shifting focus back to league play.
“Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition,” Alonso said, according to AFP. “We were showing a good level and this is what it takes to come to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main focus.”
The elimination leaves Chelsea competing only in the Premier League and the FA Cup for the remainder of the campaign. Teen sensation Estêvão remained an unused substitute on Alonso’s bench, failing to play any minutes for the Blues.
Tournament picture unfolds
Liverpool will face Bournemouth in the quarterfinal round. Elsewhere in League Cup action, Manchester City overcame a scare against Brighton, advancing on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium to set up a tie against third-tier Bradford.
Bournemouth advanced with a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa, while Crystal Palace edged Fulham 1-0. Sunderland claimed a 3-2 win over Brentford, and fourth-tier Fleetwood secured a stunning upset on penalties against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Liverpool now prepares to face Arsenal in Premier League play on Sunday, while Chelsea returns home to host Manchester United on Saturday.
