MY ACCOUNT
The third major final meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool proved to be a classic.
It was the Reds who triumphed at Wembley, where the crowd were treated to a tale of bad misses and, ultimately, a tale of two goalkeepers.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Liverpool’s 23-year-old number two, was their hero, scoring what turned out to be the shoot-out winner as Kepa Arrizabalaga, brought on at the end of extra time by Thomas Tuchel specifically for penalties, blazed his effort high over the bar.
Kepa had proved Chelsea’s hero in the Super Cup in August when he replaced Edouard Mendy for that shoot-out, yet history did not repeat itself. Nothing on Sunday went to plan for the Spain international, who had seemed all set to start, given he has been the Blues’ regular cup keeper this season.
His strike may well not have been on target if two goals had been stacked on top of each other, and it meant Jurgen Klopp’s side won 11-10 on penalties.
It was the highest-scoring penalty shoot-out between two English top-flight teams in history, and brought up a record ninth EFL Cup title for Liverpool, who have collected a fourth major trophy under Klopp, though their first domestic cup of his tenure.
Yet it could all have been very different. Kepa wouldn’t have needed to be the butt of all jokes had his team-mates finished some glorious chances, while Liverpool passed up a fair share of their own in what was one of the most thrilling 0-0 draws you are likely to see.
Here are the biggest moments from a memorable showdown…
Pulisic, 6 (xG 0.52)
The first huge moment came within six minutes. Kai Havertz, who would go on to have a superb game, exploited space in midfield and slid a pass out to Cesar Azpilicueta. His low cross found Christian Pulisic in space but the forward clipped a first-time effort straight at Kelleher.
Mane, 30 (xG 0.58)
Having headed wide from an earlier, albeit more difficult, opportunity, Sadio Mane was left bewildered not to be celebrating a goal when Mendy justified Tuchel’s selection, making a wonderful save to deny his compatriot from point-blank range.
Mount, 45 (xG 0.6)
Chelsea bookended the first half with another remarkable miss. This time it was Mason Mount who got on the end of Kai Havertz’s centre, yet he volleyed wide when it seemed easier to score. Indeed, based on Opta’s xG model, this was the best opportunity of a game packed full of golden chances.
Mount, 49 (xG 0.33)
While the xG for this opportunity would suggest Mount only had a 33 per cent chance of scoring, he really should have done better. Put through by a delicately lofted throughball, the England international set himself before sliding a low effort to Kelleher’s right, only for the ball to clip away agonisingly off the foot of the post.
Salah, 64 (xG 0.58)
Mendy was almost the master of Chelsea’s downfall when he thumped an overhit pass straight out into midfield. Salah capitalised and raced through, lobbing the onrushing goalkeeper, yet there was not enough power on the chip, which may well have been heading wide anyway, and it was cleared.
Matip disallowed goal, 67-69 (xG n/a)
The deadlock seemed to have been broken when Joel Matip headed in from Mane’s nod back across goal, only for the VAR to disallow Liverpool’s goal due to Virgil van Dijk, who appeared to block Reece James, having been offside in the build-up.
Havertz disallowed goal, 78 (xG n/a)
Chelsea got a taste of the VAR medicine as Havertz’s celebrations were cut short after he headed in from Timo Werner’s cross, with the creator having strayed offside.
Van Dijk, 90+1 (xG 0.04)
Andrew Robertson and Luis Diaz went close in a scramble, but it was Van Dijk who almost won it for Liverpool in normal time. It was a brilliant header from the towering defender, but Mendy got down low to his left to parry it away.
Lukaku, 90+5 (xG 0.19)
Chelsea had a big moment of their own in stoppage time, but Kelleher – the youngest goalkeeper to start in an EFL Cup final since 2011 – reacted sharply to keep out Lukaku’s clever flick at the front post.
Lukaku disallowed goal, 98 (xG n/a)
Lukaku showed flashes of his Inter form as he raced through, isolated a defender and slotted home at the near post early in extra time, only for the offside flag to go up again. The VAR checked the decision, but by the finest of margins the forward was indeed offside.
Havertz disallowed goal, 109 (xG n/a)
Havertz finished superbly across Kelleher in the second half of extra time, yet the Germany international was also stood in an offside position when he received Lukaku’s pass.
Kepa’s howler, penalties
In remarkable scenes, the shoot-out went all the way to 22 kicks, and it was the goalkeepers who had to step up. But having been brought on to save spot-kicks, Kepa did not seem ready to take one, and he lashed his effort way, way over the crossbar, sealing a Liverpool win in a classic final that, somehow, finished 0-0.
