Liverpool won a classic EFL Cup final on penalties, after Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the decisive spot kick in penalties. The match was full of quality throughout 120 minutes, but how it stayed at 0-0 is a big mystery. Four goals were disallowed by VAR/offside flag, along with numerous gilt-edged chances missed by both sets of players.
The latter was down to the excellent form of the two men in goal. Edging closer to the 120-minute mark, Thomas Tuchel introduced penalty speacialist Kepa as penalties loomed. But the Spaniard let in all the 11 penalties he faced before blasting his one high into the stands.
Liverpool are hot on the heels of leaders Man City and will fancy their chances of catching them. Winning this competition will be a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp’s men. On the Blue side, it’s yet another domestic cup final defeat.
While Chelsea set a record of making a sixth domestic cup final (either FA Cup or EFL Cup) in six consecutive seasons, they have won just one of those six finals. That solitary victory came in the FA Cup final in 2018, against Jose Mourinho’s Man United. Here are the results of the five previous finals:
Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal, FA Cup (2016/17)
Having won the title in stylish fashion, Antonio Conte was looking to make it a domestic double. But Arsenal, who had finished outside the top-four for the first time under Arsene Wenger, pulled off an upset. Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring, and the Blues had a mountain to climb when Victor Moses was sent off. But they managed to pull level through Diego Costa before Aaron Ramsey immediately reestablished the lead. The Gunners held on for their third FA Cup in four years.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United, FA Cup (2017/18)
Eden Hazard won and scored a penalty in the first half to salvage an otherwise disappointing season that saw Conte depart. Chelsea simply couldn’t sustain a title charge against Pep Guardiola’s relentless centurions, finishing outside the top-four. But Conte at least got his hands on the FA Cup, after missing out last season against Arsenal. Mourinho’s Man United offered a better title challenge, though they themselves finished 19 points behind.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City (Man City won 4-3 on penalties), EFL Cup (2018/19)
Despite a recent 6-0 thrashing at the hands of City, Sarri’s Chelsea matched their opponents for 120 minutes. Then came the whole Kepa fracas when he refused to be substituted heading into penalties. Jorginho missed the opening penalty, but Leroy Sane’s miss allowed the Blues a route back. But David Luiz immediately handed the initiative back to City, and Raheem Sterling scored the clinching penalty.
Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal, FA Cup (2019/20)
Frank Lampard’s youthful Chelsea side had brilliantly bagged a Champions League spot having endured a transfer ban. But they couldn’t add an FA Cup to go with it, despite taking an early lead. Christian Pulisic had a fantastic spell post lockdown and gave his side the lead. But Mikel Arteta’s star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored two in either half to make amends for an underwhelming eighth-placed finish.
Chelsea 0-1 Leicester City, FA Cup (2020/21)
Tuchel had worked wonders in his short time at the club, masterminding a semi-final win over Man City. That allowed the Blues to contest in their fourth FA Cup final in five years. But a glorious Youri Tielemans strike gave Leicester City a deserved victory. It was the Foxes’ first FA Cup in 52 years. Despite the setback, Chelsea recovered to bag a top-four finish (at the expense of Leicester) and also win the Champions League.