Losing Kepa’s pen proved pricey when Liverpool received the Carabao Cup

Liverpool beat Chelsea to win the Carabao Cup after Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the essential penalty in a marathon penalty shootout 11-10 at Wembley.

And after Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel tapped him to penalty kicks within the final minute of additional time, Kepa failed to save lots of a single penalty earlier than throwing his effort over the bar to present Liverpool the win after 120 minutes with out objectives.

It was a outstanding second that got here three years after the earlier watershed incident in Kepa’s profession with Chelsea, when he refused Maurizio Sarri’s directions to ship him away earlier than shedding on penalties to Manchester Metropolis within the 2019 closing.

For Liverpool, it was their first Carabao Cup win since 2012, which noticed them overtake Manchester Metropolis as soon as once more to change into essentially the most profitable crew within the competitors’s historical past with 9 wins. He additionally ended Jurgen Klopp’s wait to win his first home cup title with the membership.

Evaluation: A ‘ridiculous’ resolution to usher in Kepa

Jimmy Redknapp from Sky Sports activities:

“I hope you set the thought of ​​bringing goalkeepers into the penalty shootout. Mendy is among the finest goalkeepers on this planet, and then you definitely usher in Kepa as an alternative, it is ridiculous.

“I did not like his conduct when the penalties had been taken, after which he did one of many worst penalties you possibly can ever see. I do not perceive why you’ll do this.”

Sky Sports activities Gary Neville:

“I don’t like that [subbing goalkeepers on for shootouts]. It isn’t the time to research that, it might have paid off. Clearly they know Kepa has a wonderful penalty save file, however I nonetheless do not get it.

“Mendy was nice and he saved the entire sport, he has the ambiance and the sensation, he is warmed up.”

Chelsea miss three huge possibilities to win the match

Liverpool managed the ball however Chelsea had been creating the clear openings. They’d three large possibilities to take the lead, however Christian Pulisic was denied by Kawimhen Keeler early on, then Mason Mount on both facet of the primary half lacked the composure to search out the again of the online when he had nice possibilities.

These moments had been the sort that the elite striker ought to have devoured, however Romelu Lukaku was as soon as once more picked off the bench by Tuchel.

Blended soggy moments

Liverpool additionally had an enormous probability of their very own after the half-hour mark, however it was denied by Edward Mendy’s very good double save.

First, he went low to disclaim Naby Keita’s shot from the sting of the penalty space, earlier than reacting with unbelievable pace to push Sadio Mane’s follow-up effort over the bar from shut vary.

Nevertheless, he virtually price his crew within the sixty fifth minute with a poor elimination that allowed Mane to play in Mohamed Salah. However even essentially the most underrated participant within the Premier League was a failure as his foul try was turned away by Thiago Silva.

Video Assistant Referee bans Liverpool from opening match

Moments later Liverpool thought they’d taken the initiative as a intelligent free-kick routine led Mane to Joel Matip to transform from yards away, however after a prolonged VAR examine he was dominated out. Virgil van Dijk the person in cost, as he was thought-about to be holding Rhys James within the crowd from an offside place.

Kepa’s introduction proved essential to Liverpool’s victory

In the long run Lukaku was launched and thought to have given Chelsea the lead by a cut up second early in extra time. However the VAR confirmed that the striker was offside on account of a fractured offside, as he ran again on Trevoh Chalobah’s cross earlier than ending previous Keeler.

Chelsea had the ball dwelling once more within the second half of additional time as Kai Havertz circled and it was over, however as soon as once more the Blues had been thwarted by the flag, with the Germany worldwide narrowly offside.

In the end, the sport went right into a penalty shootout the place Kepa was launched, however he failed to save lots of one penalty earlier than sending him over the bar to present Liverpool the win.

What then?

Saturday March 5 5:00 PM

Departure 5:30 pm

The following Luton will meet Chelsea on Wednesday within the FA Cup. Liverpool host Norwich within the FA Cup Spherical of 16 on Wednesday earlier than returning to the Premier League duties on Saturday at dwelling to West Ham, a match dwell. Sky Sports activities.