Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, failed to save a single penalty before blasting his own effort over the bar to hand Liverpool its first Carabao Cup win since 2012.
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Liverpool defeated Chelsea on penalties to win the Carabao Cup. Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was brought on in the final minutes of extra-time, failed to save a single penalty , before blasting his own effort over the bar to hand Liverpool its first Carabao Cup win since 2012. Meanwhile it was Liverpool’s ninth Carabao Cup triumph, making them the most successful team in the history of the competition. It also ended Jurgen Klopp’s wait for a first domestic cup triumph with the club.
WE ARE THE CARABAO CUP WINNERS!!! ?? #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/HDAq8DpkUa
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2022
Chelsea had less ball possession but created the better chances in the early period of the game. Christian Pulisic was denied by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher from close range early on. The American should have put the Blues ahead as he had got into a good position and had enough time and space to put the ball inside the net but credit to the keeper for making the save.
Liverpool also had a huge chance of their own on the half-hour mark, only to be denied by Edouard Mendy’s incredible double-save. Naby Keita’s low effort from just outside the box was brilliantly saved by Mendy and then the Senegal international reacted quickly to push Sadio Mane’s follow-up effort over the bar from point-blank range.
Mason Mount got a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when he found himself in a one-on-one situation with the keeper after being played through by Pulisic’s perfect overhead ball. But the Englishman saw his effort hit the post. It was the type of chance that should have been taken by an elite striker, but Romelu Lukaku was again named on the bench.
On 65 minutes, Mane played the ball for Mohamed Salah to go through on goal, but the Egyptians attempted dink was cleared away from the line by Thiago Silva. Moments later, Klopp’s side thought they had taken the lead when Joel Matip headed the ball in from Mane’s assist after a smart free-kick routine. But after a lengthy VAR check it was ruled out as Virgil van Dijk the man responsible, was deemed to be impeding Reece James in the build-up from an offside position.
As the game progressed Liverpool pushed forward and Mendy made a series of superb saves to keep it goalless. The 29-year-old once again made a double-save to deny Diaz and Robertson. And then, Van Dijk’s header from a corner-kick was brilliantly kept out by Mendy’s outstretched left arm.
Meanwhile at the other end, substitute Lukaku’s close-range flick from Marcus Alonso’s cross was denied by Kelleher’s left leg. Lukaku thought he had taken the lead for Chelsea when he got on the end of Trevoh Chalobah’s through ball and put the ball inside the net. But VAR showed the Belgian striker was fractions offside.
Eventually the game went to penalties. All 21 players including the Liverpool keeper Kelleher converted the spot-kick before Kepa missed the decisive penalty to hand Liverpool the victory.
