Liverpool reach Carabao Cup quarter-finals after 6-5 shootout win over Chelsea

Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties at Anfield, following a 1-1 draw in normal time. Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo traded first-half penalties, and Wesley Fofana sent the decisive spot-kick over the crossbar.

  • Competition: Carabao Cup, last-16 tie
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Result: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties)
  • Goals: Morgan Rogers 40' pen (Chelsea); Cody Gakpo 43' pen (Liverpool)
  • Decisive moment: Wesley Fofana missed his penalty for Chelsea
  • What's at stake: Liverpool advance to the quarter-finals; Chelsea are out

Rogers and Gakpo trade penalties before the shootout drama

Chelsea made the breakthrough in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers converted from the penalty spot, putting the visitors ahead in a closely contested League Cup encounter at Anfield.

Liverpool's response was almost immediate. Cody Gakpo stepped forward to level matters from 12 yards just three minutes later, restoring parity before the interval and ensuring neither side would take a lead into the second half.

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, the contest remained finely balanced as both teams searched for the decisive breakthrough. Neither could find a winning goal during normal time, leaving penalties to determine which club would progress.

Dramatic shootout sees Chelsea miss their chance

The shootout delivered several twists, with both sides struggling to establish a decisive advantage as the pressure increased.

Chelsea's Valentin Barco was among the first to falter, striking the woodwork with his attempt. Liverpool were unable to capitalise fully on that opportunity, however, as Kostas Tsimikas subsequently fired his effort over the crossbar.

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson then converted his penalty for Chelsea, adding another intriguing moment to his return to Anfield.

The visitors appeared to have gained a potentially decisive advantage when goalkeeper Mike Penders saved Ryan Gravenberch's effort, leaving Liverpool facing the prospect of elimination.

However, Giorgi Mamardashvili responded with a crucial save to deny Emmanuel Emegha, ensuring the shootout remained alive and handing Liverpool another opportunity to secure qualification.

Joe Gomez stepped forward to convert his penalty for the hosts, putting the pressure back on Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana. The French international was unable to keep his effort on target, sending his spot-kick over the crossbar and bringing the shootout to a dramatic conclusion as Liverpool celebrated a 6-5 victory.

Alonso and Henderson endure unhappy Anfield return

The occasion also saw former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and ex-Reds captain Jordan Henderson return to Anfield with Chelsea, although neither enjoyed the outcome they had hoped for as the home side eventually prevailed.

Henderson successfully converted his penalty against his former club, but Chelsea were unable to secure the victory that would have taken them into the quarter-finals.

Chelsea left to reflect on missed opportunities

For Chelsea, the defeat represented a frustrating conclusion to an encounter in which they had opportunities to progress. Having taken the lead during normal time, the visitors were unable to preserve their advantage and ultimately saw their Carabao Cup campaign ended by a series of missed opportunities in the shootout.

Penders had briefly put Chelsea in a strong position with his save from Gravenberch, but Emegha's subsequent miss and Fofana's failure to convert proved costly.

Liverpool keep their Carabao Cup hopes alive

For Liverpool, progression represents another positive result in their pursuit of domestic silverware, although the manner of victory highlighted just how narrow the margins can be in knockout football.

Gakpo's first-half equaliser ensured the hosts remained in contention, while Mamardashvili's intervention during the shootout proved particularly important in turning the contest back in Liverpool's favour.

Chelsea must now turn their attention to their remaining competitions after a disappointing exit that could easily have produced a different outcome. Ultimately, the difference between the sides came down to composure in the decisive moments, with Liverpool surviving a turbulent shootout to secure their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Why Liverpool's shootout nerve held and Chelsea's cracked

Andoni Iraola's side were second in the queue when the shootout reached its pivot. Mike Penders had just denied Ryan Gravenberch, and Chelsea had the chance to press home that advantage. Giorgi Mamardashvili's save from Emmanuel Emegha flipped the pressure entirely — suddenly it was the visitors who had to score to stay alive, and Wesley Fofana, a defender, carried the weight of the decisive kick.

That is the tactical story of this Liverpool win. Shootouts reward the side that keeps the initiative after a miss, and Liverpool did exactly that through their goalkeeper. Chelsea's own keeper, Penders, had produced the moment that should have decided it, but the outfield takers around him could not back him up. The distribution of responsibility matters: when the crucial kick falls to a centre-back while more natural takers are still available, that is a selection call Chelsea will review.

In normal time the pattern was simple and evenly matched. Morgan Rogers struck his penalty on 40 minutes, Cody Gakpo answered three minutes later, and neither side could find the winning goal that would have avoided all of this. The margins were always going to be thin.

Talking points

  • Should Chelsea have had a more reliable penalty taker than Wesley Fofana for the decisive kick, given the options still waiting on the pitch?
  • Does Mamardashvili's save from Emegha now make him the first-choice cup goalkeeper for the rest of Liverpool's run?
  • Liverpool won without a goal from open play — is this a warning sign or just the nature of a scrappy knockout night at Anfield?
  • Jordan Henderson scoring against his former club added a twist to the drama — but it counted for nothing in the end.

What happens next

Liverpool advance to the last eight, where the quarter-final draw will decide their opponents and a home or away path to the semi-finals. Chelsea's hopes of lifting the League Cup are over for another season, and they must now refocus on their remaining competitions. For Iraola, the cup run offers a genuine route to silverware — and a squad already tested by a shootout at Anfield.

Frequently asked questions

What was the final score between Liverpool and Chelsea in the Carabao Cup?

Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 in normal time at Anfield.

Who missed the decisive penalty for Chelsea?

Wesley Fofana sent his spot-kick over the crossbar, ending Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign.

Did Liverpool reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?

Yes. Liverpool secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with the shootout win, while Chelsea exited the competition.

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