Liverpool defeated Chelsea 11-10 on penalties to win the Carabao Cup after a 0-0 draw in the final played at Wembley on Sunday evening.
It was goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalga, who was brought on just before the shootout, who missed the decisive spot-kick in a remarkable shootout.
The two sides could not be separated after normal and extra time in a thoroughly entertaining clash. forcing the shootout.
Chelsea got off the blocks first and almost took a sixth-minute lead when Christian Pulisc got to the end of Cezar Azpilicueta’s ball but failed to beat Caoimhin Kelleher, who made a wonderful save.
The Blues were the better side from there onwards, limiting Liverpool to only a few touches in the middle of the park.
Liverpool felt they should have been given a penalty halfway through the half when Azpilicueta was adjudged to have touched the ball, but the referee could not have any of it.
Liverpool then created their first chance on goal on the half-hour mark as they forced Edouard Mendy into a world-class double save.
First, the Senegalese made a wonderful stop to deny Keita, but the rebound fell invitingly for Sadio Mane, who couldn’t beat him from close range.
That is why we start Mendy. Conversation closed. Period. pic.twitter.com/FSLB3cTlW1
— Stop That CFC (@StopThatCFC) February 27, 2022
Chelsea knocked again just before the break, but Mason Mount wasted a glorious chance after picking up an inch-perfect pass inside the box, with his effort going inches wide of the right post.
Four minutes into the second half, Mount was put through clear inside the box, he sidestepped the keeper but inexplicably hit his shot against the right post.
Liverpool thought they had taken the lead in the 67th minute when Joel Matip headed home a Sadio Mane ball following a free-kick, but the goal was chalked off as Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have committed a foul in the buildup.
Chelsea too put one in the back of the net through Kai Havertz, but it was ruled out for offside.
Mendy was then called into action late on to deny Luis Diaz as both teams went all out for a late winner.
Romelu Lukaku, who was a late substitution came close to winning it for Chelsea deep in added time, but the keeper pulled off a stunning save as the match went into extra time.
Lukaku found the back of the net in the first half of extra time, but it was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
None of the teams could find the winner and the match was forced to go into penalties.
Both teams successfully converted the opening 10 minutes, with Arrizabalaga missing the last and decisive spot-kick to hand Liverpool the win.
