Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties as Iraola's side reach Carabao Cup quarters

Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after losing a penalty shootout to Liverpool, extending their miserable record against the Reds from the spot. The Guardian reported that Wesley Fofana’s miss sailed high into the Kop, sealing victory for Andoni Iraola’s side ^[4]. This marked Chelsea’s fifth consecutive defeat in a shootout against Liverpool, adding to previous losses in the 2007 Champions League semi-final and the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final.

The match itself was a tight affair, with both managers navigating significant squad absences. According to The Independent, Florian Wirtz's availability was a late call and not confirmed as certain before the match ^[5]. The same source noted that Chelsea were without suspended Cole Palmer and injured striker Joao Pedro, while Liverpool faced doubts over Victor Munoz. Despite these challenges, both teams fielded competitive line-ups, with Morgan Rogers leading the line for Chelsea alongside Danny Welbeck, who started both previous Cup ties.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who took charge following the sacking of Arne Slot, oversaw a rotation policy that gave opportunities to younger players like Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha ^[5]. This approach paid off in the shootout, where Giorgi Mamardashvili made a crucial save to deny Emmanuel Emegha, ensuring the hosts progressed to the quarter-finals ^[4]. The result follows Liverpool’s recent league victory over Brighton, which The Guardian described as a strong performance, particularly highlighting Rutter’s influence on the pitch ^[3].

For Chelsea, the defeat compounds a difficult week, having suffered a derby loss to Tottenham just days prior ^[5]. The Mirror provided details on the broadcast, noting that the clash was available on Sky Sports and ITV, with kick-off set for 8pm ^[2]. The Sun had previewed the match as a massive occasion, highlighting the return of former Liverpool hero Alonso to Anfield as an opponent ^[1].

With the shootout concluded, attention now turns to the next round of the Carabao Cup. The draw will follow the conclusion of all fourth-round ties, with Liverpool hoping to maintain momentum under Iraola. Chelsea, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for their upcoming fixtures, looking to overcome their psychological block against Liverpool in decisive moments. The narrative of the match was defined by resilience from Liverpool and heartbreak for Chelsea, whose penalty woes against their rivals continue to grow.