Liverpool's penalties spoil Xabi Alonso's Anfield return as Chelsea exit Carabao Cup
Carabao Cup 4th Round
Liverpool (1) 1 Gakpo pen 43
Chelsea (1) 1 Rogers pen 40
Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties
A return to Anfield for Liverpool old Boys Xabi Alonso and Jordan Henderson ended in disappointment for them as Chelsea bowed out of the League Cup on penalties.
After both sides had traded penalties in the first half, neither side could force a winner and it needed a shoot-out at the Kop End to decide the outcome, with the Blues missing the chance to seal it after Mike Penders had saved Ryan Gravenberch's effort. Emmanuel Emegha had his shot saved and after Joe Gomez had scored, Wesley Fofana skied his kick.
Valentin Barco hit the woodwork and Kostas Tsimikas also missed the target at the start of the tense penalty decider but it was the Reds who prevailed in the end.
With Brentford losing 3-2 at Sunderland, it means that Crystal Palace are now the only London side left in the competition. And the Eagles have been drawn at home to the Black Cats in the quarter-finals.
Alonso, who has been back to Anfield since his playing days with the Reds, as boss of both Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, was philosophical about the loss and saw it as an important step-up in form after the abject derby defeat to Spurs at the weekend.
"For sure the outcome was not what we wanted. It's not what we expected," he said. "It's sad for us but I have to say the game was played at a very competitive level and it was a good performance.
"We showed an improvement I would say and that's what we wanted. We played with courage. The game was really close with not many chances for both sides.
"It's a small setback in this competition which has been important for us in other years and we need to move on. As soon as we leave Anfield, our focus will be on Saturday in the Premier League. That's the most important thing."
Alonso was asked about his reluctance to use Estevao - who fans were clamouring to see in action. The Spaniard said: "He could be happier for sure. Everybody wants to play and wants to be part of the team. We've had some very intense games and there will be moments for everyone, I'm sure and that Este will have his moment."
And after his own goal calamity at the weekend, keeper Mike Penders had a much better night. "He looked solid," Alonso said. "Good composure - that's what it takes in this job to overcome difficult situations and he did well."
The game sprung into life in 37th minute following smart play from Malo Gusto with a pass into Moises Caicedo running in the penalty box away from goal. Whatever Gravenberch was thinking while he slid through the back of Caicedo, he probably won’t want to explain to his manager. Morgan Rogers scored from the resulting penalty.
Chelsea celebrated for the best part of two minutes before a senseless handball by Fofana at a Liverpool corner handed the advantage back to Liverpool as it was Cody Gakpo's turn to score from the spot. But when it came to spot kicks, it turned out there would be much more to come.
Maxemce Lacroix came off at the break with a suspected hamstring injury which puts his participation in doubt for the Saturday lunchtime clash with Man United at Stamford Bridge.
Reds: (4-2-3-1) Mamardashvili - Gomez, Araujo, van Dijk (Jacquet 72), Tsimikas - Gravenberch, Nyoni (Mac Allister 81) - Koumas (Barcola 59), McConnell (Wirtz 59), Ngumoha (Isak 82) - Gakpo
Blues: (4-3-3) Penders - Acheampong, Lacroix (Colwill h/t), Fofana, Gusto (Palestra 68) - Caicedo (Barco 68), Lavia, Henderson - Pedro Neto, Welbeck (Emegha 68), Rogers
Attendance: 60,214
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