For the second time in three months, Liverpool have defeated Chelsea in a penalty shootout at the home of football, lifting the FA Cup to continue their unlikely quadruple dream.
Liverpool has won the FA Cup final after defeating Chelsea in a penalty shootout at Wembley.
Reminiscent of the Carabao Cup final earlier this year, Liverpool proved victorious in a 6-5 penalty shootout over the Londoners.
Konstantinos Tsimikas scored the winning penalty for Liverpool after Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount’s attempts were saved by Alisson.
Liverpool began far brighter, dominating the opening quarter-hour thanks largely to Luis Diaz. After much pregame conjecture over which combination of Liverpool’s five sensational forwards are now Jurgen Klopp’s best trio, the electric start by the Colombian — alongside Mohamed Salah and the central Sadio Mane — quickly proved the manager right.
However, the Reds were unable to capitalise on the early pressure. While Diaz was a menace on the left flank, chance after chance went begging.
The same could eventually be said for Chelsea later in the half and throughout the second period, particularly through Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic.
This FA Cup triumph is Liverpool’s first since 2006 and it helps cement their special season with a second trophy and a chance to add more silverware in the Champions League Final and the Premier League still to come.
They trail Manchester City by only three points with two matches remaining and have Real Madrid ahead of them in Europe’s biggest competition.
After extra-time petered out, Chelsea won the toss for the shootout, which meant, unlike the EFL Cup final, they were kicking towards their own support.
The first failure for the Blues came with their second penalty, as Cesar Azpilicueta struck the post. Mane — already a penalty king for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final this year — had the chance to win it with his side’s fifth kick, but he was denied by compatriot Edouard Mendy.
In sudden death, Alisson — who had also gone down with an injury scare earlier, as well as making two magnificent saves during the game — produced when it mattered, diving to his left to keep out Mount’s effort.
Up stepped late substitute Tsimikas, the unlikeliest of heroes, to seal Liverpool’s first taste of FA Cup glory at Wembley in three decades – and ensures Klopp has now completed the full set of trophies on offer to him as Liverpool boss.
The result keeps Liverpool’s hopes alive for an unprecedented quadruple. The Reds are already in the Champions League final and still hoping for a Man City Premier League slip.
My Goat Sports 