Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5bin a dramatic penalty shoot-out to reach the English League Cup quarter-finals.
In a clash between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, it was the Liverpool manager who took the bragging rights in the last-16 tie at Anfield on Wednesday.
A 1-1 draw in normal time set the stage for the shoot-out as Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers netted from the spot, only for Cody Gakpo to equalise with a penalty of his own just before half-time.
Chelsea’s Valentin Barco hit the post in the shoot-out before Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas wasted a chance to win it when he blazed over.
Ryan Gravenberch was denied by Chelsea keeper Mike Penders, but Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha’s kick to keep Liverpool alive.
After Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool, Blues defender Wesley Fofana miscued into the Kop as the hosts advanced.
It was former Liverpool midfielder Alonso’s third defeat in his three visits to Anfield as a manager following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
In their debut campaigns at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot both reached the League Cup final and Iraola is on course to follow in their footsteps with the 10-time winners of the competition.
“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,” said Iraola, who will face his former club Bournemouth in the last eight.
Alonso added: “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.”
Alonso made just four changes to the Chelsea side that lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, while Iraola made seven changes from Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday.
Rogers put Chelsea in front with a 40th-minute penalty after Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo.
But Liverpool were level three minutes later with a penalty of their own as Gakpo converted from the spot following Fofana’s handball.
