Chelsea won their first trophy under manager Thomas Tuchel as they beat Liverpool on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Kepa the hero in shootout drama
The match went to a shootout after neither side could find a winner in normal or extra time. Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero for the Blues as he saved two penalties from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi. Mason Mount scored the decisive spot-kick for Chelsea to seal their sixth EFL Cup title and deny Liverpool their ninth.
Kepa, who was brought on as a substitute for Edouard Mendy in the final minute of extra time, justified Tuchel’s decision with his heroics in the shootout. The Spaniard, who had a difficult spell at Chelsea under former boss Frank Lampard, showed his confidence and quality as he dived to his right to keep out Salah’s powerful strike and then to his left to deny Origi.
Mount, who had missed a penalty in the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal in August, made no mistake this time as he sent Alisson Becker the wrong way and sparked wild celebrations among the Chelsea players and fans.
Havertz cancels out Mane opener
The match was a tight and tense affair, with both sides creating few clear-cut chances. Liverpool took the lead in the 19th minute when Sadio Mane headed in from close range after a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Senegalese forward, who had scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, continued his fine form with his fourth goal in two games.
Chelsea responded well and equalized in the 36th minute when Kai Havertz nodded in from a corner by Hakim Ziyech. The German attacker, who had scored the winner against Manchester City in the Champions League final in May, showed his aerial prowess as he rose above Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip to direct his header past Alisson.
Both teams had chances to win the game in the second half, but neither could find the clinical touch. Chelsea had a penalty appeal turned down when Reece James went down under a challenge from Andy Robertson, while Liverpool had a goal disallowed for offside when Diogo Jota tapped in from a cross by Roberto Firmino.
In extra time, Chelsea came close to scoring when Timo Werner hit the post with a low shot and N’Golo Kante forced a save from Alisson with a volley. Liverpool also had a couple of opportunities, but Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson both fired over the bar.
Tuchel adds another trophy to his collection
The shootout victory gave Tuchel his second trophy as Chelsea manager, after he led them to their second Champions League title in his first season in charge. The German coach, who replaced Lampard in January, has transformed Chelsea into a formidable and consistent team, with a solid defense and a versatile attack.
Tuchel has also improved the performances of several players, such as Kepa, Havertz, Werner, and Jorginho, who have all played key roles in Chelsea’s success. He has also given opportunities to young talents like Mount, James, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who have all impressed with their energy and quality.
Tuchel will now aim to add more silverware to his collection, as Chelsea are still in contention for the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Club World Cup. The Blues are currently second in the league, one point behind leaders Manchester City, and will face Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round on Wednesday. They will also travel to Japan in December to compete for the Club World Cup against the champions of other continents.
Klopp suffers another final defeat
For Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, it was another disappointing day at Wembley, as he suffered his fourth defeat in five finals with the Reds. The German boss, who has won the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup with Liverpool, has yet to win a domestic cup in England.
Klopp has lost two EFL Cup finals, one FA Cup final, and one Community Shield final with Liverpool, with his only domestic cup success coming in the 2012 DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund. He has also lost three Champions League finals, two with Dortmund and one with Liverpool, before he finally lifted the trophy in 2019.
Klopp will hope to bounce back from this setback and focus on the other competitions, as Liverpool are still in the hunt for the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. The Reds are currently third in the league, four points behind Chelsea, and will face Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in February. They will also play Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday.
