Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to reach the English League Cup quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw in normal time at Anfield on Wednesday.
The last-16 tie doubled as a reunion between childhood friends and opposing managers: Liverpool's Andoni Iraola and Chelsea's Xabi Alonso. It was Iraola who took the bragging rights, inflicting on Alonso his third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a manager, following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
Chelsea's Morgan Rogers opened the scoring with a 40th-minute penalty after Ryan Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo. Liverpool levelled three minutes later when Cody Gakpo converted from the spot after Wesley Fofana's handball.
The shootout proved dramatic. Chelsea's Valentin Barco hit the post, while Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas blazed over to waste a chance to win it. Gravenberch was then denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders, before Liverpool keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha's kick to keep the hosts alive.
Joe Gomez scored to put Liverpool ahead in the shootout. Fofana then miscued his effort into the Kop, sending Liverpool through.
Fofana's miss sealed Chelsea's exit. French defender Maxence Lacroix also had a difficult evening, going off injured before half-time, a week before the France squad is due to be announced.
Alonso made four changes to the Chelsea side that had lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday. Iraola made seven changes from Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday.
Iraola is now on course to reach the League Cup final. Both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot reached the final in their debut campaigns at Liverpool, and Iraola is following the same path with the ten-time winners of the competition. Liverpool will face Bournemouth, Iraola's former club, in the quarterfinals.
"We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday," Iraola said.
Alonso reflected on the defeat: "Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition. We were showing a good level and this is what it takes to come to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main focus."
