Liverpool edge Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after 1-1 draw to reach Carabao Cup last eight

Andoni Iraola’s tactical gamble paid off as Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by defeating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw at Anfield, according to the Daily Star ^[3]. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Reds manager, who is keen to secure early silverware during his tenure at the club.

The match was decided by nerve rather than skill, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Joe Gomez emerging as unlikely heroes in the shootout. The Sun reported that this marked the fifth time Liverpool had won a penalty shootout against Chelsea, highlighting the psychological edge the Reds hold in these high-pressure scenarios ^[2]. Both sides had missed chances in regulation time, with Morgan Rogers converting a penalty for Chelsea before Cody Gakpo levelled the score from the spot.

Liverpool started in buoyant form following a recent 2-0 victory over Brighton, while Chelsea arrived in London in a more precarious mood after a home defeat to Tottenham, the Metro noted ^[1]. Despite the absence of several key players due to injury, including Florian Wirtz who was initially deemed unlikely to play, Iraola fielded a competitive XI. The manager had indicated before the match that he intended to mix up his starting lineup to manage squad rotation across the Carabao Cup and Champions League campaigns.

The game itself was largely devoid of quality in the opening half-hour, with the only excitement coming from The Kop’s chants for 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha. The former Chelsea academy product, who joined Liverpool in 2024, looked lively on the pitch before being substituted. The deadlock was broken just before the hour mark when Ryan Gravenberch’s clumsy challenge gifted Morgan Rogers a penalty, which the midfielder calmly converted.

Chelsea’s lead lasted only two minutes as Wesley Fofana’s handball from a corner allowed Gakpo to equalise. The second half saw both managers make strategic changes, with Iraola introducing Wirtz and Bradley Barcola to bolster the attack. Although Wirtz had his shot blocked by Levi Colwill, and Mamardashvili made crucial saves to keep his side in the contest, neither team could find a winner in normal time.

With Arsenal having already crashed out of the competition against League Two opposition, the path to silverware for the remaining teams has narrowed. Liverpool will now face Manchester City in the next round, having won their previous meeting in the same manner. Iraola’s decision to introduce his most reliable penalty takers, including Alexis Mac Allister and Alexander Isak, proved decisive in the final moments of the contest ^[3].