Liverpool Beat Chelsea on Penalties to Reach Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals After Late Anfield Drama

Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday evening, as Wesley Fofana’s decisive miss sent Andoni Iraola’s side through to the last eight.

The Reds emerged 6-5 winners on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time, with Cody Gakpo cancelling out Morgan Rogers’ opener in a contest that saw both goals scored from the penalty spot.

It was another memorable cup night at Anfield, with Liverpool overcoming a Chelsea side managed by former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso, who returned to Merseyside alongside former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

The victory extended Liverpool’s winning run to five matches across all competitions and secured another home cup tie, with Bournemouth awaiting in December. It also provided a welcome confidence boost ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

Liverpool and Chelsea Exchange First-Half Penalties

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, both sides approached the opening exchanges cautiously, although Chelsea gradually began to establish themselves in the contest.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made seven changes to the starting XI that defeated Brighton 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, handing opportunities to youngsters Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas.

Despite Chelsea enjoying spells of possession, clear-cut opportunities were limited until the 40th minute, when Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moises Caicedo inside the penalty area.

Morgan Rogers stepped forward and confidently converted from 12 yards, sending Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way to give the visitors the lead.

However, Chelsea’s advantage lasted just three minutes. Wesley Fofana was penalised for handling Kostas Tsimikas’ corner, allowing Cody Gakpo to equalise with an accurately placed penalty beyond Mike Penders.

The Dutch forward almost doubled his tally before the interval, but Penders produced an important save to ensure the sides entered half-time level.

Liverpool Hold Their Nerve in Dramatic Penalty Shootout

Both sides emerged from the interval looking to take control, with Rogers forcing Mamardashvili into an excellent save as Chelsea threatened to regain their advantage.

At the other end, Ronald Araujo was denied by Penders before the introduction of Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola provided Liverpool with additional attacking options. Barcola came particularly close to scoring, only for the Chelsea goalkeeper to produce another impressive stop.

Chelsea also had opportunities to win the tie, most notably when substitute Marco Palestra was denied by Mamardashvili during the closing stages.

With neither side able to find a breakthrough, the contest headed directly to penalties in front of the Kop.

Alexis Mac Allister, Alexander Isak, Gakpo and Wirtz successfully converted Liverpool’s opening four penalties, while Chelsea matched the hosts through Pedro Neto, Rogers and Romeo Lavia.

Valentin Barco then struck the post, presenting Tsimikas with an opportunity to win the shootout. However, the Liverpool defender fired over, allowing former Reds captain Jordan Henderson to restore parity.

The drama continued into sudden death. Barcola and Levi Colwill both converted before Penders saved Gravenberch’s effort, handing Chelsea an opportunity to secure progression.

Mamardashvili responded with a crucial save from Emmanuel Emegha before Joe Gomez stepped forward and emphatically converted Liverpool’s eighth penalty.

That left Fofana needing to score to keep Chelsea’s hopes alive, but the French defender sent his effort over the crossbar, sparking celebrations around Anfield and confirming Liverpool’s progression.

Iraola Praises Liverpool as Bournemouth Quarter-Final Confirmed

Liverpool’s victory maintained their hopes of lifting the Carabao Cup for the 11th time, with Iraola’s side demonstrating their resilience to overcome another challenging cup opponent.

Speaking after the match, the Liverpool manager expressed his satisfaction with the performance and the effort shown by his players, particularly those handed opportunities in a much-changed starting XI.

The quarter-final draw subsequently handed Liverpool another home fixture against Bournemouth, setting up an intriguing reunion for Iraola against his former club.

Speaking about the draw, Iraola admitted that Bournemouth were the opponents he had hoped to avoid, describing the meeting as a particularly special occasion.

The Cherries secured their place in the quarter-finals with an impressive 3-0 victory against Aston Villa, meaning Liverpool will face another Premier League opponent in their pursuit of silverware.

The quarter-final is scheduled for the week commencing Monday 14th December 2026, with the exact fixture date and kick-off time still to be confirmed.

Liverpool Turn Attention to Huge Arsenal Premier League Clash

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup progression comes at an important stage of their season, with Iraola’s side continuing to build momentum after a difficult start to October.

The Reds have now recorded five consecutive victories across all competitions, including their recent Premier League win over Brighton and an entertaining 4-3 Champions League success against Villarreal.

However, their biggest test of the week arrives on Sunday 1st November, when reigning Premier League champions Arsenal travel to Anfield for a hugely anticipated encounter.

Mikel Arteta’s side head into the weekend joint-top of the Premier League table alongside Manchester City, while Liverpool are looking to close the gap on the league leaders.

Having already beaten Brighton and Chelsea at Anfield this week, Liverpool will be hoping to complete an impressive sequence of home victories against some of England’s leading clubs.

Supporters looking to witness Sunday’s encounter can explore Liverpool v Arsenal hospitality packages with Eventmasters, combining matchday seating with exclusive hospitality experiences at Anfield.

With Liverpool progressing in the Carabao Cup and gathering momentum in the league, the coming weeks could prove significant in shaping their ambitions under Iraola. Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal now presents an opportunity to underline that progress against the defending champions.

Liverpool v Chelsea Carabao Cup FAQs

What was the result of Liverpool vs Chelsea in the Carabao Cup?

Liverpool defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after the fourth-round fixture finished 1-1 at Anfield on Wednesday 28th October 2026. The victory secured Liverpool’s place in the quarter-finals.

Who scored in Liverpool’s match against Chelsea?

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for Chelsea with a penalty in the 40th minute before Cody Gakpo equalised from the spot three minutes later.

Who missed the decisive penalty for Chelsea?

Wesley Fofana missed Chelsea’s final penalty, sending his effort over the crossbar after Joe Gomez had converted for Liverpool. The shootout finished 6-5 in Liverpool’s favour.

Who will Liverpool play in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?

Liverpool will host Bournemouth at Anfield in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals during the week commencing Monday 14th December 2026.

When is Liverpool’s next Premier League fixture?

Liverpool’s next Premier League fixture is against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1st November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm.