Liverpool defeated Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shootout, advancing to the League Cup quarter-finals. Meanwhile, reigning champion Manchester City managed to overcome difficulties by playing Brighton on Wednesday.
In the match between former teammates Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, the Liverpool manager gained an advantage in the Round of 16 game at Anfield stadium. The match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time, leading to a penalty shootout. Morgan Rogers' goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot was equalized by Cody Gakpo with his own penalty shortly before halftime.
During the penalty shootout, Valentin Barco shot wide of the post, and Kostas Tsimikas missed a chance to win by shooting over the bar. Ryan Gravenberch was stopped by Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Pender, but Georgi Mamardashvili prevented a goal by Emmanuel Emegi.
After Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana made an inaccurate pass to 'The Kop', allowing the home team to advance further. For Alonso, this marked his third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a coach, following losses to Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
In their debut campaigns at Liverpool, both Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot reached the League Cup final, and Iraola is following in their footsteps among the ten-time winners of this tournament.
Iraola stated: 'We are very happy. Three consecutive home wins are very important. We had difficulties at home in the league, but now we are playing against Arsenal on Sunday.' He noted that in the eighth match he will face his former club Bournemouth.
Alonso added: 'Every time you reach penalties, someone feels that elimination from the competition was unfair.' He also emphasized: 'We showed a good level, and that is what is needed to get to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main priority.'
Alonso made only four substitutions in the Chelsea squad, which lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, whereas Iraola made seven substitutions in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday.
Rogers opened the scoring for Chelsea from the penalty spot in the 40th minute after Gravenberch clashed with Moisés Caicedo. However, Liverpool equalized within three minutes with their own penalty when Gakpo capitalized on Fofana's foul.
At the Etihad stadium, City was pushed to the limit by Brighton in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw before they won in a penalty shootout. City coach Enzo Maresca made nine substitutions after the loss to Aston Villa on Saturday, which interrupted the leaders' perfect start in the Premier League.
