Chelsea vs Liverpool Carabao Cup Final Match Report

Liverpool have won their first trophy of the season after they took Chelsea all the way to penalties and eventually were victors after an 11-10 win on penalties, with the goalkeepers playing decisive roles for both sides.

Despite finishing 0-0 after 120 minutes, it was an enthralling game, full of drama and controversy. Both teams played to a very high standard and played a very exciting end to end match.

Chelsea will know they missed great chances, with Christian Pulisic being the first to miss a golden opportunity, although, it will be Mason Mount who will be kicking himself, after missing a direct header on goal before he hit the post after being sent one-on-one with the Liverpool goalkeeper. Chelsea will feel Liverpool got off lucky midway through the second half, with Naby Keita seemingly raising a high boot on Trevoh Chalobah, but the midfielder was able to avoid punishment.

The Liverpool players will feel they had a perfectly good goal ruled out, after Joel Matip finished off a fantastic free kick routine from the reds. It was his centre back partner Virgil Van Dijk, who was seen to intervene with play in an offside position, but the Liverpool players argued he wasn’t involved at all.

Chelsea also had two goals ruled out for offside in extra time, with Romelu Lukaku firstly getting one disallowed and then Kai Havertz later on, with the Lukaku one yet again confusing people about the use of VAR after on replay he seemed onside.

The game ended after 120 minutes and despite being a 0-0, it was a high intensity game of football. The game went to penalties and 21 of 22 penalties were scored before Chelsea’s 11th taker, Kepa Arrizabalaga skied over the bar after Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher slotted his away, winning the game for Klopp and co.

Klopp after the game called the Irishman “the best number two in the world” due to his commanding performance in between the sticks.

Thomas Tuchel defended his decision to bring on Kepa, saying it was always the plan to bring the Spaniard on if the game went to penalties after he previously won them the UEFA super cup by saving penalties after coming on in the last few minutes.

Virgil Van Dijk walked away with the Man of the Match, in what was a typically dominant display from the Dutchman, showing a level of composure that everyone has come used to seeing. He organized the backline with efficiency and led the team on to eventually help Liverpool win their record ninth league cup.