LIVERPOOL WIN CARABAO CUP AS KEPA MISSES 22ND PENALTY

Liverpool win their ninth League Cup on penalties due to an abysmal penalty attempt from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Action packed final goes all the way to a penalty shootout as neither side was able to put the ball into the back of the net fairly. Penalties still seemed like they would be able to separate the two sides, with everyone scoring, therefore leaving just the goal keepers to have a go from 12 yards.

Liverpool’s Kelleher converted from the spot meaning Kepa had to score to keep the Blue’s in with a chance.

Unfortunately for Chelsea the tactical substitution from Tuchel didn’t pay off as it was Kepa who gifted Liverpool the trophy, blazing his penalty over the cross bar, as well as not saving any of Liverpool’s 11 penalties.

Almost an early lead

The first chance of the game came fell to Chelsea as Havertz received the ball outside the 18-yard box. He distributed the ball out to Azpilicueta on the right side who played a first time cross into the 6- yard box where Christian Pulisic was waiting.

The American international’s early chance is blocked by Kelleher who had the left footed strike placed straight at him. The ball was quickly cleared although Marcos Alonso retrieved the ball before taking on a shot of his own however he sent the ball flying straight over the bar.

Denied from point blank range

On the half hour mark Luis Diaz beat Chalobah out on the left flank prior to releasing the ball inside to Mane. Sadio Mane then teed up Naby Keita on the edge of the box.

Keita came into the starting 11 on short notice after Thiago got injured in the pre-match warmup. He drilled the ball towards the bottom left corner but Mendy got down to it. The save fell straight to Mane who inevitably looked as if he was going to put Liverpool 1-0 up.

However, the Chelsea shot stopper somehow made a spectacular save to prevent his Senegalese teammate tucking the ball away. It was a remarkable save from Edouard Mendy; he more than made up from pushing the first shot from Keita back into a dangerous area.

Golden opportunity squandered

Moments before the interval, Pulisic came driving forward, he was brought down by an in form Fabinho but still managed to get the ball out to Kai Havertz.

The German dinked the ball over to Mason Mount who found himself completely open in the penalty area. Somehow the Blues midfielder put the ball wide.

He really should have done better from the position he was in with no pressure on his from the Liverpool defence who were caught napping.

Mount's misfortune continues

Pulisic again dribbled through the middle of the park before he spotted the run of Mason Mount. He exquisitely chipped the ball over the entire Red's back four leaving Mount all alone to face Kelleher between the sticks.

His shot struck the inside of the right post then came back into play. The Englishman missed yet another crucial chance to put one hand on the Carabao Cup.

Thiago Silva clears off the line

Chelsea attempted to mount an attack but Liverpool were quick to pile the pressure on N'golo Kante in the midfield. The Frenchman was forced to play the ball all the way back to Edouard Mendy.

A misplaced pass back up field fell straight to Fabinho who passed forward to Sadio Mane. The Liverpool attacker unlocked the Chelsea defence with a beautiful through ball to partner in crime Mo Salah; the Egyptian opted to chip Mendy.

Thiago Silva was able to complete a lung-bursting recovery run in time to save his goalkeeper's blushes by hoofing the ball off the line out for a throw-in.

Matip's opener ruled out

Moments later Liverpool won a free-kick 25 yards out via a Marcos Alonso foul on Mohamed Salah.

Trent Alexander-Arnold swung the ball towards Mane at the back post, where he headed the ball back across the face of goal. Joel Matip met it in the air and put the ball into the roof of the net.

Despite this, celebrations were cut short as VAR ruled out the goal a couple of minutes later due to Virgil Van Dijk interfering with play whilst in an offside position. The score remained

0-0 with only 20 minutes of regular time left on the clock.

Havertz goal chalked off

New signing Luis Diaz was dispossessed by Kovacic who lofted the ball over to Timo Werner. Werner then played it first time in the air to fellow German Havertz; Kelleher got a hand on Havertz's header but the ball still managed to go over the line.

The linesman was quick to raise the offside flag to disallow Chelsea's goal, Werner was found offside as Kovacic gave him the ball. Therefore, the deadlock remained unbroken despite 2 goals being scored at that point.

Deadlock just won’t break

With very limited time remaining of the regular 90, Liverpool continued to search for the vital winning goal. The Reds won a corner over on the left side. Andy Robertson played it short to Salah who returned the ball to the Scottish full-back.

Robertson fizzed the ball into the penalty area. Shots were quick-fired towards the Chelsea goal but the ball just wouldn't go in. Despite the massive scramble in the box the score remained level.

Stuck in a stalemate

Liverpool's final chance of normal time came from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner. The out-swinging corner met the head of Virgil Van Dijk who easily beat Reece James in the air.

It was a powerful header from the Dutchman but not enough to beat Mendy. Van Dijk was unlucky not to score the winner as he deserved a goal after his outstanding performance.

Blues almost snatch the trophy at the death

Chelsea played a long ball towards Liverpool's goal as they search to steal the victory in the dying seconds.

Marcos Alonso brought it down on the left-hand side and narrowly managed to get past Alexander-Arnold prior to crossing the ball into the 6-yard box.

The Spaniard found Romelu Lukaku who got in front of Fabinho to direct the ball towards the near post; the minute touch wasn't enough to beat Kelleher who stopped the shot before Milner cleared it away.

Lukaku’s goal controversially deemed offside

The highlight of extra-time came when Andy Robertson's pass was intercepted by Chalobah. The young centre back drove forward and then slotted Lukaku through on goal.

Lukaku got away from Konate before he drilled the shot towards goal; Kelleher was wrong-footed and was unable to get anywhere near the strike. Chelsea had their celebrations cut short once more as the linesman raised his flag instantly.

However, on VAR the offside call was a lot closer than originally thought. Fans and pundits were split between whether or not the goal should have stood as the margins were unbelievably close. In the end the goal was deemed offside, leaving Liverpool fans extremely relieved whilst Chelsea fans were disappointed and frustrated.

3rd time unlucky

The fourth and final disallowed goal came from Kai Havertz. Alonso and Lukaku linked up on the left side well, looking for an opening into the box.

It was Lukaku who saw the gap to play in Havertz who blasted the ball into the net, although the linesman shattered Chelsea dreams for the 3rd time.

Kai Havertz booted the turf as he saw the assistant referee raise his flag again in frustration. If it weren't for him, the German would have earned a brace.

All the way to penalties

Nothing could separate the two sides after 120 minutes of football. Therefore the 2022 Carabao Cup champions was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Liverpool stepped up first and scored every single penalty - Chelsea were also 100% successful from 12 yards.

20 penalties had been taken, all of which went in, leaving only the goalkeepers Kepa and Kelleher to take one.

Kepa blazes it into Row Z

Kelleher was up first, every one of his players had scored - the pressure was on. The Irish shot stopper coolly struck his penalty into the net before immediately getting into position to face Kepa's penalty.

Now all the pressure piled onto Kepa's shoulders as he had to score in order to keep Chelsea in the shoot-out.

It must have all got too much for the Spaniard as he sent his spot kick flying over the crossbar. With that a devastated Chelsea were left to watch Liverpool celebrate their first piece of silverware of the campaign.

Liverpool lift the Carabao Cup

After 120 minutes of football and 22 penalty kicks, Liverpool win the Carabao Cup for a record ninth time.

A goalless draw for 2 hours however this fixture was arguably one of the best final viewings in a long time, an extremely competitive game that was a rollercoaster ride for both teams.

They both had their share of chances, with Mason Mount having plenty for Chelsea, as well as Pulisic coming close early on. Liverpool looked as though they were going to break the deadlock 30 minutes in but a wonderful double save from Edouard Mendy prevented that from happening.

Linesmen found themselves busy today with four goals being chalked off due to offside, all were correct calls although many will be unhappy with the final disallowed goal from Lukaku who has since been deemed onside by some.

In the end though Liverpool got the victory on penalties after Thomas Tuchel’s gamble to bring on Kepa for Mendy didn’t pay off. Ultimately it was the Spaniard who lost the shootout for the Blues as his shot from 12-yards was blasted into the stands.

What’s Next?

Next match report = Everton vs Boreham Wood

Tuesday 3rd March 20:15

Line-ups:

Chelsea - (3-4-3) : Mendy (Kepa 120’), Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta (James 57’), Kante, Kovacic (Jorginho 105’), Alonso, Mount (Lukaku 74’), Havertz, Pulisic (Werner 74’)

Bookings - Kovacic (90’), Kante (99’), Havertz (105’)

Liverpool – (4-3-3) : Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip (Konate 90’), van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson (Elliot 79’), Fabinho, Keita (Milner 80’), Salah, Mane (Jota 80’), Diaz (Origi 97’)

Bookings – Alexander-Arnold (105+2’)

Referee: Stuart Atwell

Attendance: 88,512

MOTM: Virgil Van Dijk

Written by Isabelle Newnham