Liverpool won the EFL Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties following a goalless draw at Wembley Stadium as Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the 22nd kick of the shoot-out, helping the Reds win the cup.
A tight encounter saw several big chances missed and four goals disallowed in all before Kepa – who was brought on specifically for the shoot-out – missed the decisive penalty.
The remarkable finish means Liverpool have now won a record nine EFL Cups – one more than Manchester City – with this Jurgen Klopp’s first domestic cup since arriving at Anfield in 2015.
European and world champions Chelsea will rue their wasted opportunities even before the spot-kicks in their fourth consecutive domestic final defeat.
Liverpool controlled much of the first half and should have taken the lead just before the half-hour mark.
Edouard Mendy made a stunning double-save from Naby Keita and Sadio Mane.
Chelsea missed another glorious chance on the stroke of half-time as a counter-attack saw Kai Havertz set up Mason Mount, who somehow missed the target from point-blank range, before hitting the post when in again early in the second half.
Kelleher and Mendy were on hand to stop Van Dijk and Romelu Lukaku’s efforts.
Lukaku and Havertz had the ball in the net in extra time, only to see the flag go up.
Sending the game to penalties – but only after Kepa replaced Mendy.
Neither he nor Kelleher could save any of the first 21 successful strikes.
Before, Kepa failed to follow his opposite number in finding the net and fired over the crossbar.
What does it mean? This game could be just the start for Liverpool this season.
Liverpool lifted their first EFL Cup in 10 years. Still, it is merely the first of four competitions they have a chance of winning this season, back in the Premier League title race, in a strong position in the Champions League round of 16 against Inter and looking ahead to the FA Cup fifth round this week.
That unlikely quadruple bid so nearly came off the rails, though, in the highest-scoring shoot-out ever between two English top-flight teams.
Both teams struggle to convert.
It is not unfamiliar to see players snatching at chances in a nervous environment. Still, even by usual standards, the finishing at Wembley’s show left a lot to be desired.
There were seven big chances in total as defined by Opta (4-3 to Liverpool) in normal time, with none converted.
What’s next?
FA Cup fifth-round action next as Chelsea travel to the Championship side Luton Town on Wednesday.
While Liverpool host Premier League strugglers Norwich City on the same day.
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