Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to reach the League Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ first-half spot-kick before Liverpool prevailed in a shoot-out that saw both sides miss chances to settle the last-16 tie.
Rogers had put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute after Ryan Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo. Liverpool were level three minutes later, when Gakpo converted from the penalty spot following a handball by Wesley Fofana.
The decisive moments came after normal time. Chelsea’s Valentin Barco struck the post, while Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas missed the opportunity to win the contest when he blazed over.
Gravenberch was then denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders, but Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili kept his side alive by saving Emmanuel Emegha’s effort.
Joe Gomez subsequently scored for Liverpool, leaving Chelsea defender Fofana needing to convert. Instead, he miscued his kick into the Kop as the hosts advanced to the quarter-finals.
The result gave Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola bragging rights over Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, who had been a childhood friend of his. It was also Alonso’s third defeat in as many visits to Anfield as a manager, following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
Liverpool made seven changes from the team that beat Brighton 2-0 on Sunday, while Chelsea made four alterations after their 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham on Saturday.
Iraola said: “We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday.”
Liverpool, 10-time winners of the competition, will face Iraola’s former club Bournemouth in the quarter-finals. In their first seasons at the club, Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot both reached the League Cup final.
Alonso said: “Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition.
“We were showing a good level and this is what it takes to come to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main focus.”
