Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties to reach League Cup quarter-finals

Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, England's league cup competition, at Anfield in Liverpool. The match was level after normal time, and Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana missed the decisive spot kick. The win sends Liverpool into the quarter-finals, where they will meet Bournemouth, the former club of Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

How the match unfolded

Both goals in normal time came from penalties. Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moises Caicedo. Three minutes later Cody Gakpo equalised after Fofana handled a corner from Kostas Tsimikas. Late in the first half Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix appeared to pull a hamstring and was replaced by Levi Colwill.

The second half brought chances at both ends, but goalkeepers made several saves and there were no further goals. Emmanuel Emegha made his Chelsea debut off the bench.

The shoot-out

Emegha's penalty was saved, Valentin Barco hit the post, and efforts from Gravenberch and Tsimikas also failed. Joe Gomez scored his kick, and Fofana then fired over the bar, ending the tie.

Reaction and what comes next

Iraola had named four youngsters in his starting line-up and said they did a good job. He noted Liverpool now have three home wins in a row, with a match against Arsenal due on Sunday. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso called it a proper cup game, but said this is the least important competition for his club and the focus now shifts to the Premier League.

It was Liverpool's fifth consecutive win in all competitions. Chelsea suffered a second straight defeat after losing to Tottenham in the Premier League, and have now lost five penalty shoot-outs in a row against Liverpool. The quarter-finals will be played in the week beginning 14 December.