Liverpool advances to League Cup quarterfinals after 6-5 penalty win over Chelsea

Working families and fans at Anfield watched their team secure a place in the League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. Liverpool defeated Chelsea 6-5 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw during regular time. The victory extends Liverpool’s home winning streak to three consecutive matches.

The scoreline remained level until the end of regulation. Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers scored a penalty in the 40th minute after a challenge by Ryan Gravenberch on Moises Caicedo. Cody Gakpo equalized for Liverpool three minutes later. He converted a penalty awarded following a handball by Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana.

The shootout required both teams to take multiple kicks before a winner emerged. Chelsea’s Valentin Barco struck the post, and Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas missed his attempt by shooting over the bar. Mike Penders, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, saved a kick from Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, saved a shot from Emmanuel Emegha to keep the contest alive.

Joe Gomez successfully converted his penalty for Liverpool. The match concluded when Wesley Fofana missed his kick, sending the ball into the stands in front of the Kop. This result marks the third loss for Xabi Alonso in his three visits to Anfield as a manager. His previous defeats occurred with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.

Andoni Iraola, who managed Chelsea’s opponent, made seven changes to Liverpool’s starting lineup compared to their 2-0 victory against Brighton on Sunday. Alonso made four changes to the Chelsea side that lost 2-0 to Tottenham on Saturday. The managerial matchup featured childhood friends Iraola and Alonso.

Iraola noted that winning three home games in a row is important for the team’s confidence. Liverpool had struggled in league matches at home prior to this run. The team faces Arsenal on Sunday. Iraola’s side will meet his former club, Bournemouth, in the quarterfinals.

Alonso stated that reaching penalties often feels harsh for the team that is eliminated. He described the performance level as good but noted that the Premier League remains the primary focus. This result keeps Liverpool’s hopes alive in the competition, where their previous managers Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot both reached the final in their debut campaigns.