LIVERPOOL won the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea 11-10 on penalties after the game finished 0-0.
Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the crucial penalty and saved none despite coming on late in extra-time to do just that.
Chelsea had three goals ruled out for offside in normal time while Liverpool had one of their own disallowed.
But victory was for Liverpool, who haven’t won a domestic cup since 2012.
- Start time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Football
- Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Pulisic
- Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Keita, Henderson, Mane, Diaz, Salah
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
That’s all from Wembley Stadium
And the end of our League Cup Final coverage.
Chelsea more than played their part in a thrilling, frantic match, but one wayward kick has ensured that Liverpool are record winners of the competition for a ninth time.
The talk in the build-up was all about goalkeeper with Jurgen Klopp favouring inexperienced Caoimhin Kelleher over Alisson, while Thomas Tuchel recalled his number one, Edouard Mendy, for the big occasion.
And the post-match chat will be about goalkeepers too as Kelleher defied his years to remain cool from the spot when it mattered. In contrast, Chelsea’s decision to switch their stoppers for penalties backfired.
It will soon be back to other matters considered more important such as Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge, and Chelsea’s Champions League defence, but today was all about the League Cup – and the day belongs to Liverpool. Goodnight.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we call time on an extraordinary day of cup final football, let’s take a recap on all that went down (and up, if we’re talking about Kepa’s penalty) at Wembley. Here’s Charlie Wyatt’s match report, hot off the press.
We had a truly classic finish with one of the greatest penalty shoots-out the new stadium has seen. And in the end, Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, the penalty king introduced to save the day, hit a terrible penalty to hand Liverpool their first domestic Cup for 10 years. It was breathless stuff.
Top ten for victorious Klopp
Not only did Jurgen Klopp become the first German manager to win the English League Cup, he also made it ten trophies in his coaching career.
An elite football manager.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter
King Kelleher on the wall
Caoimhin Kelleher was the unlikely hero for Liverpool as they claimed the League Cup for a record ninth time.
The Reds’ back-up stopper made some fine saves during the 120 minutes and then played a pivotal part in the penalty shootout – just not in the way he would have expected.
After the first 20 kicks had been scored, attention turned to the two goalkeepers. The young Irishman struck first, putting his penalty away brilliantly, before watching on as his opposite number struck his into orbit.
It’s a mad one! Jurgen said ‘there’s a wall with all the Liverpool goalkeepers who have won cups so now you can go on that!'”
Caoimhin Kelleher
Ecstatic Reds take the trophy
The celebrations continue. A late switch means that the trophy lift will take place in the stands rather than on the pitch so Liverpool’s victorious players ascend the stairs like to so many have done them.
As captain, Jordan Henderson is the one who lifts the trophy, but such is the togetherness in this Liverpool squad that they all join in – even the unused substitutes, and those not included in the matchday squad.
Redknapp slams Kepa penalty switch
Jamie Redknapp has put the boot into Chelsea’s decision to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga on for the penalty shootout – almost with as much force as the Spaniard sent his spotkick over the crossbar with.
I hope it puts to bed these substitutions of putting goalkeepers on. Edouard Mendy is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and you bring on Kepa instead of him – ridiculous! I didn’t like his behaviour when the penalties were being taken, and then he took one of the worst penalties you’ve ever seen. I don’t like it!
Jamie Redknapp
Liverpool win the League Cup!
You really couldn’t make it up.
The man brought on to save the penalties (and didn’t save a single one) has missed the vital kick to hand the cup to Liverpool.
The Chelsea players huddle around Kepa Arrizabalaga, but know that this time their tactical tweak did not work. Who knows if Edouard Mendy would have saved any of those 11 Liverpool spotkicks, but he allowed very little to beat him during 120 minutes.
At one end of Wembley, a sea of red – on the pitch and in the stands – come together to celebrate the first domestic trophy of the season.
Missed! Kepa Arrizabalaga blasts over the bar!
Liverpool win the League Cup Final!
Chelsea 10-11 Liverpool
Goal! Caoimhin Kelleher scores!
What a penalty!
Chelsea 10-11 Liverpool
Goal! Trevoh Chalobah scores!
The defender makes it the full set for the outfield players. It’s down to the keepers.
Chelsea 10-10 Liverpool
Goal! Ibrahima Konate scores!
Only just! Kepa gets a hand to it, but is not strong enough to keep it out.
Chelsea 9-10 Liverpool
Goal! Thiago Silva scores!
On it goes! So nicely done by the Brazilian.
Chelsea 9-9 Liverpool
Goal! Harvey Elliott scores!
Nicely done by the teenager! Left-footed, and again Kepa dives the wrong way.
Chelsea 8-9 Liverpool
Goal! Timo Werner scores!
Just! The shot creeps under Kelleher’s hand!
Chelsea 8-8 Liverpool
Goal! Andy Robertson scores!
Low and left-footed! No chance Kepa!
Chelsea 7-8 Liverpool
Goal! N’Golo Kante saves
Cool and calm from Kante, sending Kelleher the wrong way.
Chelsea 7-7 Liverpool
Goal! Divock Origi scores!
He also opts for the middle! Kepa dives to his right.
Chelsea 6-7 Liverpool
Goal! Antonio Rudiger scores!
A straight run-up followed by a calm centre beyond Kelleher.
Chelsea 6-6 Liverpool
Goal! Diogo Jota scores!
The substitute smashes it straight down the centre. A little fortunate, perhaps, but they all count.
Chelsea 5-6 Liverpool
Goal! Jorginho scores!
A hop, skip, and Jorginho lifts it down the centre.
Chelsea 5-5 Liverpool
Goal! Mo Salah scores!
Excellent penalty! Left-footed, into the top right corner.
Chelsea 4-5 Liverpool
Goal! Reece James scores!
A short run up, but he slams it into the same corner as Alexander-Arnold. He puts his finger to his lips to silence Liverpool fans behind the goal.
Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool
Goal! Trent Alexander-Arnold scores!
No mistake! He drills it into the left corner!
Chelsea 3-4 Liverpool
Goal! Kai Havertz scores!
Again, the Chelsea man shuffles before he strikes, and then sends Kelleher the wrong way.
Chelsea 3-3 Liverpool
Goal! Virgil van Dijk scores!
Right-footed, powered into the top corner!
Chelsea 2-3 Liverpool
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
