Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea was settled from the spot on Wednesday night, with the Reds winning 6-5 on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead with a first-half penalty, Cody Gakpo levelled from the spot before the break, and Wesley Fofana sent the decisive kick of the shootout over the bar.
Liverpool will now host Bournemouth in the last eight, with the quarter-finals set for the week starting 14 December. For Chelsea, it is a second straight defeat after losing the London derby to Tottenham at the weekend.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Key Facts
- Competition: Carabao Cup, fourth round
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
- Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Score: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties)
- Goals: Morgan Rogers (penalty) for Chelsea, Cody Gakpo (penalty) for Liverpool
- Shootout hero: Joe Gomez scored Liverpool’s sixth kick before Wesley Fofana missed
- Next up for Liverpool: Bournemouth at home in the quarter-final
How the Match Unfolded
Both managers rotated heavily for a midweek cup tie. Andoni Iraola made seven changes from the side that beat Brighton in the Premier League at the weekend, keeping only Ronald Araujo, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk in the starting line-up. He handed starts to a group of young players, including Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas, while Giorgi Mamardashvili kept goal.
Chelsea, managed by Xabi Alonso, were the more dangerous side for long spells of the first half. The opening goal arrived around the 40-minute mark when Gravenberch brought down Moises Caicedo inside the box. Rogers stepped up and finished into the corner to give the visitors the lead.
The lead lasted only a few minutes. From a Kostas Tsimikas corner, Fofana was penalised for handball, and Gakpo drilled the resulting penalty low and hard past Mike Penders. That made it 1-1 at the break, and Chelsea’s evening got worse just before half-time when Maxence Lacroix went off injured and was replaced by Levi Colwill.
Second half: goalkeepers on top
The second half belonged to the two goalkeepers. Mamardashvili denied Rogers and later made a sharp stop from a low Marco Palestra effort. At the other end, Penders kept out a close-range header from Araujo and also saved from Bradley Barcola, who came off the bench along with Florian Wirtz to add some star power for the home side.
Liverpool had a golden chance late on when Wirtz could not convert from close range, and desperate Chelsea defending in the six-yard box kept the tie level. Neither side could find a winner in normal time, so it went straight to penalties.
The Penalty Shootout
The shootout was long and tense. Each side converted five of their first seven kicks, with misses and saves on both sides. Mamardashvili saved from Chelsea debutant Emmanuel Emegha, who had come on as a substitute, while Penders also made a save of his own.
Gomez then stepped up and scored for Liverpool, putting the pressure on Fofana. The Chelsea defender, who had already given away the penalty for Liverpool’s goal, blazed his kick over the bar and into the Kop to send Anfield wild. It continues a remarkable record: Chelsea have now lost five straight penalty shootouts against Liverpool.
What It Means for Both Clubs
For Liverpool, this was a fifth straight win in all competitions, counting the shootout as a cup progression, and another sign of the depth in Iraola’s squad. Several of the youngsters handled a big Anfield night well, and the club stays in the hunt for silverware on multiple fronts.
For Chelsea, the defeat adds to a difficult week. Alonso had described the Carabao Cup as the least important competition for his side this season, and his rotation reflected that. Still, losing two games in a row, plus an injury worry over Lacroix, is not ideal before a busy run of fixtures. Chelsea host Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.
If you followed our Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction, you will know we expected a tight game between two rotated sides. You can also look back at our report on Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham, the derby defeat that started this bad run for the Blues.
Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Line-Up
Liverpool join Manchester City, Crystal Palace and League Two Fleetwood Town in the last eight, along with Bradford City and Sunderland. The final place will be decided when Everton face Newcastle United on Thursday night, with the winner travelling to Fleetwood. The four quarter-finals are:
- Fleetwood Town vs Everton or Newcastle United
- Manchester City vs Bradford City
- Crystal Palace vs Sunderland
- Liverpool vs Bournemouth
For the full schedule and official updates, visit the EFL website. For the latest match tips, see our football predictions.
FAQ
What was the score in Liverpool vs Chelsea in the Carabao Cup?
The match finished Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea after 90 minutes, and Liverpool won the penalty shootout 6-5 at Anfield.
Who scored in Liverpool vs Chelsea?
Morgan Rogers scored a penalty for Chelsea and Cody Gakpo equalised with a penalty for Liverpool, both in the first half.
Who missed the decisive penalty for Chelsea?
Wesley Fofana missed the decisive kick, firing over the bar after Joe Gomez had scored for Liverpool.
Who do Liverpool play in the Carabao Cup quarter-final?
Liverpool host Bournemouth in the quarter-final, with the ties set for the week starting 14 December 2026.
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