Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties to lift their record 9th EFL Cup
Old English fierce rivals Chelsea and Liverpool were up against each other at Wembley for the mega final of the EFL Cup on Sunday.
Liverpool were playing their first domestic cup competition final for the first time since 2016. Moreover, Red’s boss Jurgen Klopp has hinted his team needs to win more trophies to be remembered as winners.
Winning the EFL Cup was certainly important for Liverpool. The trophy would boost the morale of the team to achieve more success for the Reds later going into the season.
But Liverpool had a major setback right into the start of the game. Thiago Alcantara sustained an injury during warm-up to keep him out of the game.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool have had excellent opportunities to open the scoring right from the start of the game. As both teams came close to scoring but neither did find the back of the net.
Eduardo Mendy for Chelsea and Caoimhin Kelleher for Liverpool were excellent in from of their respective goals.
The second half was nothing sort of different, as it ended goallessly. Chelsea and Liverpool have barely let up in the first 90 minutes of this match, and yet somehow neither team has been able to score.
This time in the second half, the ball was put in the back of the net by Liverpool’s Matip only to be ruled out through VAR. Meanwhile, Timo Werner’s effort was raised offside by the linesman to keep the score at 0-0.
In the extra time, it was a story of “the flag was raised”. On a couple of occasions, Chelsea did score but the linesman raised the flag to rule out offside.
The world will agree, this game was the best goalless final ever seen.
As the tie went into the penalties, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel bought in goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace Mendy.
And after 21 penalties were taken, at the score Chelsea 10-11 Liverpool, Kepa stepped up to take the penalty to keep the Blues alive in the Cup final. But the Spaniard missed and Liverpool became champions for the record ninth time in the EFL Cup.
EFL Cup – Chelsea 0 (10)-(11) 0 Liverpool: Post match reaction
Klopp explains when asked about how his relationship has grown with Kelleher.
I saw from the first second that he is in an incredible talent.
But to be 100 per cent honest, for me Caoimhin Kelleher is the best No.2 in the world as well, especially for the way we play.
The game he played tonight was absolutely incredible.
Klopp reacts on whether it was the perfect way to win the trophy because ‘everyone contributed’.
Absolutely great to win it like this. We called it the people’s cup but the whole journey was a squad journey and that’s what I love most about it.
When asked about the fractional offside call that saw Matip’s goal disallowed, and VAR in general.
I didn’t see it back. Was there any doubt about the goal of Joel? I don’t know.
Klopp reacts to the feeling and momentum this trophy win will provide with so much still to play for this season.
It’s a big one for us because it’s the first time for this group but the ninth time for the club, which is very important as well.
And after the game it was nice to celebrate with the people after a long time without having any reason to celebrate something, or not the opportunity to celebrate something. So, I’m really happy about the whole thing.
What’s next for Liverpool
Liverpool are up against Norwich City in their next outing in the FA Cup Round 5 at Anfield.
This will be the fourth meeting between the sides this season. The Reds and the Canaries have faced each other twice in the Premier League and in the EFL Cup before.
