First Kostas Tsimikas and then Blues debutant Emmanuel Emegha had chances to win the shoot-out but couldn’t find the net, meaning Wesley Fofana’s miss with the 16th penalty ultimately proved decisive.

During the 90 minutes it was a tale of just two penalties, as Morgan Rogers’ effort was quickly cancelled out by Cody Gakpo’s as half-time approached.

There were opportunities for both teams but no further goals after the break. Mike Penders made a couple of super saves and his opposite number Giorgi Mamardashvili denied sub Marco Palestra with our best chance to win it.

In the shoot-out, Valentin Barco missed but after Tsimikas blazed over, Penders thwarted Ryan Gravenberch. Unfortunately Emegha couldn’t convert and Fofana’s miss spelled the end of our aspirations in this season’s Carabao Cup.

Team news

Xabi Alonso made four changes to the side that started against Tottenham. Wesley Fofana and Malo Gusto came into the defence, the latter at left-back making his 100th start for the club. Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato were the two to make way, although Colwill would be introduced before the first half was up.

Romeo Lavia joined Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park, with Danny Welbeck flanked by Pedro Neto and Rogers.

An uneventful start to the contest was abruptly ended in the tenth minute when Lewis Koumas caught Maxence Lacroix late and was booked. It seemed to spark the Blues into life as we enjoyed the first sustained spell of pressure, without reward.

Midway through the half, James McConnell was the next young Liverpool player booked. From the resulting free-kick, the ball fell to Caicedo but his wayward volley epitomised the contest up to that point.

Pair of penalties

Rogers had an appeal for a penalty waved away after he was bundled to the ground under pressure from Ronald Araujo, but the referee did award us a spot-kick with seven minutes of the first half remaining.

A clever reverse pass from Gusto found Caicedo, who had got the wrong side of Ryan Gravenberch and was subsequently hacked to the ground by the Dutch midfielder. Rogers stepped up and confidently fired home in front of the 6000 travelling Chelsea supporters.

Liverpool were almost immediately given a penalty of their own after Fofana handled from a corner. Gakpo converted into the bottom left-hand corner making it two shots on target and two goals.

Mike Penders then made a strong low save to stop Gakpo doubling his and Liverpool’s tally and, before the half-time whistle blew, Lacroix limped off and had to be replaced by Levi Colwill.

Rogers had two early sightings of goal when play restarted, forcing a flying save from Giorgi Mamardashvili with the second.

It remained a hard-fought cup tie played mostly in the middle of the pitch, although some space was starting to emerge.

Penders to the fore

That was never truer than on the hour mark. An unmarked Araujo drew a great save from Penders with a close-range header, and it all needed from us was one pass to release Rogers, whose shot was blocked before it could test Mamardashvili.

By now Liverpool had sent on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, and it was the French winger who came very close to putting the Reds ahead. His 18-yard shot was deflected and Penders reacted superbly to divert it around the post.

With a quarter of the game to play, Alonso handed a Chelsea debut to Emmanuel Emegha, who replaced Welbeck. Barco and Palestra were introduced at the same time, Caicedo and Gusto making way.

With 12 minutes to go, Palestra very nearly slid us in front at the end of our best move yet, with Neto and Rogers heavily involved. Mamardashvili’s save was excellent, so 1-1 it remained.

Only a sensational pair of blocks from first Colwill and then Josh Acheampong kept us level when it looked certain Wirtz or Gakpo would find the net from point-blank range. They would prove the final chances of note so to penalties we went, to be taken in front of the Kop.

Penalties

Alexis Mac Allister went first and fired into the top left-hand corner. Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea.

Neto slotted down the middle with our first penalty. Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea.

Alekander Isak shot into the same spot as Mac Allister, no chance for Penders. 2-1.

Rogers was pinpoint into the bottom left-hand corner. 2-2.

Gakpo went bottom left too. 3-2.

Lavia calmly placed his effort into the bottom right-hand corner. 3-3.

Wirtz went the same way as Lavia, Penders guessed incorrectly. 4-3.

Barco’s curled effort hit the inside of the left-hand post and bounced out. 4-3.

Kostas Tsimikas, to win it, thumped his strike well over the crossbar. 4-3.

Henderson, cool as you like, stroked high down the middle. 4-4.

Into sudden death and Barcola found the top corner. 5-4.

Colwill’s penalty was perhaps the best yet, whipped into the top right-hand corner. 5-5.

Penders guessed correctly – to his left – and parried Gravenberch’s shot. 5-5.

Emegha’s shot was kept out by Mamardashvili diving to his right. 5-5.

Gomez blasted into the top corner. 6-5.

Fofana’s strike flew over the bar, and Liverpool had won 6-5.

What’s next…

The Blues have a quick turnaround before our next fixture, at home to Manchester United in the Premier League. That’s a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix (Colwill 46), Fofana, Gusto (Palestra 68); Caicedo (c) (Barco 68), Lavia, Henderson; Neto, Welbeck (Emegha 68), Rogers
Unused subs Sharman-Lowe, Subuloye, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda
Scorer Rogers (pen) 40
Booked Acheampong 50, Lavia 73

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Araujo, Gomez, Van Dijk (c) (Jacquet 72), Tsimikas; McConnell (Wirtz 59), Nyoni (Mac Allister 82); Ngumoha (Isak 82), Gravenberch, Gakpo; Koumas (Barcola 59)
Unused subs Alisson, Endo, Chiesa, Chambers
Scorer Gakpo (pen) 43
Booked Koumas 11, McConnell 21

Referee Darren England