Liverpool Beat Chelsea 6-5 on Penalties and Man City Edge Brighton in League Cup

Photo: AP via Sportsnet

Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties and Manchester City beat Brighton 4-3 in a shootout as both giants survived a dramatic League Cup fourth round night to reach the quarter-finals. Holders City twice came from behind, while Liverpool needed a late miss from Wesley Fofana to win at Anfield.

It was a night for goalkeepers and nerve. City's backup keeper saved Brighton's last two penalties, and Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili kept his side alive with a key stop before Joe Gomez scored and Fofana blazed over the bar.

Main News Report: Liverpool Beat Chelsea 6-5 on Penalties

The Associated Press reported that Liverpool and Chelsea drew 1-1 at Anfield, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. Chelsea's Morgan Rogers put the visitors ahead from the spot in the 40th minute, after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moises Caicedo. Liverpool were level three minutes later, when Cody Gakpo scored a penalty of his own after a handball by Wesley Fofana.

The shootout swung back and forth. Chelsea's Valentin Barco hit the post, and Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas then wasted a chance to win it by blazing over the bar. Gravenberch was denied by Chelsea keeper Mike Penders, but Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha's kick to keep Liverpool alive. After Gomez scored for Liverpool, Fofana miscued the final kick high over the bar and into the Kop, and Anfield erupted.

Free Malaysia Today, carrying the AFP report, noted that it was a fifth penalty shootout win for Liverpool over Chelsea, and a third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a manager for Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, after earlier losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.

Background Context: City Survive, Arsenal Already Out

Manchester City stayed on course to retain the title, but only just. Arab News, carrying the AP report, said City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Brighton at home, then won 4-3 in the shootout. Backup goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saved Brighton's last two spot kicks, from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk, after Mateo Kovacic had seen City's fourth penalty saved.

The night's other results completed a full round of upsets avoided, just barely. Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0, Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Fulham, and Sunderland overcame Brentford 3-2. All five Wednesday ties are now settled, with only Everton against Newcastle on Thursday left to wrap up the last 16.

The backdrop made Wednesday's escapes stand out. On Tuesday, Arsenal lost in stunning fashion to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, one of the biggest shocks in the competition's 66-year history. Third-tier Bradford City, the beaten finalists in 2013, also reached the quarter-finals on Tuesday. See our earlier report on Fleetwood's shock win over Arsenal for how that upset unfolded. In other sport this week, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf was fined for a code breach in the Lahore ODI win over England, and Sri Lanka thrashed Pakistan to reach the tri-series final.

Reactions and Statements: Relief at City, Delight at Anfield

City's players celebrated at full time at the Etihad as if they had won a final, and with good reason: they had trailed twice and trailed in the shootout too, before Rulli's two saves turned it around. The AP report framed it plainly as holders surviving a scare, not cruising through.

At Anfield, the roar when Fofana's kick flew over the bar told the story. Liverpool had been on the edge twice in the shootout, first when Tsimikas missed the chance to win it, then when Gravenberch was denied. Mamardashvili's save from Emegha was the moment that kept them in it, and Gomez, a defender with no senior goal in more than 300 Liverpool appearances before this season, held his nerve to score.

Chelsea, who made only four changes from the side that lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, will rue both the missed chances in the shootout and the handball that gave Liverpool their equaliser. Liverpool made seven changes from their 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday, yet still found a way through.

Why This News Matters: The Cup That Punishes the Big Clubs

The League Cup fourth round has now produced the full range of cup football in two nights: a fourth-tier club knocking out the Premier League champions, a third-tier club reaching the last eight, and two giants needing penalties to survive. That is why this competition still matters to fans, even when managers rotate their sides.

For Liverpool, the win keeps a realistic trophy path open and extends a remarkable shootout record against Chelsea. For City, it keeps the defence of the title alive. For Chelsea, it is another cup exit that will raise questions about Alonso's record in big away games.

The quarter-final draw, due later on Wednesday, will now pair the survivors with Fleetwood and Bradford, which guarantees at least one lower-league club a glamour tie and a big payday.

• Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties. Rogers and Gakpo scored the penalties in normal time.
• Man City 2-2 Brighton: City win 4-3 on penalties. Rulli saved Ayari and Dunk at the end.
• Bournemouth 3-0 Aston Villa, Crystal Palace 1-0 Fulham, Sunderland 3-2 Brentford.
• Tuesday shocks: Fleetwood beat Arsenal on penalties, Bradford beat Peterborough to reach the last eight.
• Still to play: Everton host Newcastle on Thursday to complete the last 16.

Future Developments: Quarter-Final Draw and Thursday's Tie

The draw for the last eight follows on Wednesday night, and the ties will shape the rest of the competition. A home draw against Fleetwood or Bradford would be the kindest outcome for a big club, while another all-Premier League tie would test squads already stretched by league and European games.

On Thursday, Everton host Newcastle for the last quarter-final place. The winner joins Liverpool, City, Bournemouth, Palace, Sunderland, Fleetwood and Bradford in the draw. Dates for the quarter-finals will be confirmed after that tie.

Sources

Sportsnet / Associated Press: Man City, Liverpool win penalty shootouts to advance in English League Cup
Arab News / Associated Press: Man City and Liverpool win penalty shootouts to advance in English League Cup
Free Malaysia Today / AFP: Liverpool beat Chelsea in League Cup shoot-out, Man City survive scare

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