Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup final result after Kepa misses crucial penalty in shoot-out
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (Liverpool wins 11-10 on penalties): Kepa Arrizabalaga’s miss settles thrilling final at Wembley
Follow live reaction as Liverpool won the Carabao Cup final on a penalty shootout after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the crucial spot-kick. After 20 penalties were scored, it went down to the goalkeepers to decide a thrilling final.
Caoimhin Kelleher scored his for Liverpool, but Kepa, who was brought on for the shoot-out after replacing Edouard Mendy, blazed his over the crossbar as Liverpool won the cup.
After both Liverpool and Chelsea made a pro-Ukraine gesture before kick-off, Christian Pulisic had the first chance of the final but was denied by Kelleher, to set the tone of a breathless final.
The Blues were on top in a frantic opening to the game but Liverpool soon gained control. Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy kept his side in it as he produced a stunning double save to prevent Sadio Mane from point-blank range.
Mason Mount then had a huge chance moments before half-time but skewed his volley wide after being found by Kai Havertz in the box, as the sides went into the break level.
Mount had a further chance after the break as he was picked out by Pulisic, but could only dig a finish onto the post from under his feet, as Thomas Tuchel pounded the turf in frustration.
Liverpool thought they had taken the lead on 66 minutes when Joel Matip headed in from close range, only for it to be disallowed by VAR as Virgil van Dijk, who blocked Thiago Silva, was ruled offside.
Chelsea then had a goal disallowed after Timo Werner was offside before Havertz finished past Kelleher. Both goalkeepers made further saves to send the final into extra-time, as Mendy dived to keep out Van Dijk’s header and Kelleher stopped Romelu Lukaku’s flick with his feet.
Lukaku then had a goal disallowed by VAR after the striker went too early before firing past Kelleher. Chelsea had another goal disallowed, as Havertz saw his finish ruled out, as the match went to penalties.
Follow reaction to a thrilling Carabao Cup final below:
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
12 mins: Thomas Tuchel spoke before the game about having pace up top and so far it’s working for Chelsea. Kai Havertz has been sharp on the ball and isn’t afraid to take on Trent Alexander-Arnold or cut inside to run at Joel Matip.
Thiago Silva seems to have taken a knock. He’s gone down and needs cheking over by the physios. This would be a big miss for Chelsea if he can’t continue.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
9 mins: Chelsea have started as the better team. They’re pushing high up the pitch, right up against the Liverpool back line. Marcos Alonso plays the ball wide to the left and sends Mason Mount free alongside the box. He whips in a cross but Jordan Henderson is back to head it clear.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
6 mins: Mo Salah attempts to weave his way into the right side of the penalty area but runs into trouble and has to pass to ball back to Fabinho. He slides a through ball over to the right wing where Trent Alexander-Arnold drills a low cross into the box that Antonio Rudiger clears.
Save! Chelsea work the ball up to Kai Havertz who darts inside from the left and slips the ball over to Cesar Azpilicueta in the right side of the area. He threads the ball into the six-yard box where Christian Pulisic meets it with a first time shot only for Caoimhin Kelleher to keep it out from close range! Great save from the Liverpool man!
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
3 mins: Virgil van Dijk sends a clearance up the pitch towards Luis Diaz who leans into Trevoh Chalobah and tries to win a free kick. The defender clears the ball though and referee Stuart Attwell lets play go on.
Both teams are trying to find their feet in the game, stringing together a few passes and challenging for the ball in the middle of the pitch.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
Kick off: Jordan Henderson gets the 2022 Carabao Cup final underway and Liverpool win a throw in over on the left wing. Andy Robertson chucks it down the line and Cesar Azpilicueta knocks it out again deeper in his own half. N’Golo Kante then intercepts the ball and Chelsea look to build an attack of their own.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Four of Liverpool’s last five League Cup finals went into extra time, with the only exception in this run their 2-0 win after 90 minutes against Manchester United in the 2002-03 final in Cardiff.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Here come the players. Both captains come out onto the pitch carrying wreaths in support of the people of Ukraine. There is an annoucement of unity and solidarity for Ukraine with applause breaking out around the stadium and the Ukrainian flags being raised.
A late change for Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara has been injured in the warm-up and is replaced in the Liverpool starting XI by Naby Keita. Harvey Elliott has been brought onto the bench as well.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
The only two players to start all five Chelsea matches in this season’s Carabao Cup are Malang Sarr and Kepa Arrizabalaga but neither starts in the line-up today.
Mason Mount also played in all five of those fixtures.
Mo Salah is one of Liverpool’s best-ever transfers - and one of Chelsea’s worst
Even if Chelsea leave Wembley today with the League Cup and beat Liverpool in the final, they will depart the stadium with a sense of ‘this is what you could have had.’ What they could have had is Mohamed Salah, who is worth significantly more than English football’s secondary domestic cup.
The Egyptian spent 12 months at Stamford Bridge eight years ago after signing for the London club from Basel. In truth, Chelsea did not really want him back in 2014. He was bought in part because Juan Mata was unexpectedly sold to Manchester United and a replacement was needed to bolster the squad. The other reason was to keep him away from Anfield. Liverpool wanted him badly.
Salah is one of Liverpool’s best-ever transfers - and one of Chelsea’s worst
The Premier League’s top scorer hit two goals in midweek to warm up for the final
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