Liverpool and holders Manchester City both needed penalty shoot-outs to reach the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, October 28, with Liverpool beating Chelsea at Anfield and City edging past Brighton at the Etihad Stadium after two dramatic last-16 ties.
At Anfield, Andoni Iraola got the better of his childhood friend Xabi Alonso. Chelsea took the lead through a Morgan Rogers penalty in the 40th minute, after Ryan Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo.
Liverpool levelled three minutes later. Wesley Fofana was penalised for handball, and Cody Gakpo converted from the spot, sending the tie to a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Chelsea’s Valentin Barco hit the post in the shoot-out, but Kostas Tsimikas blazed over with the chance to win it. Gravenberch was then denied by Mike Penders, before Giorgi Mamardashvili saved from Emmanuel Emegha.
Joe Gomez scored for Liverpool, and Fofana miscued his effort into the Kop to send the hosts through. It was Alonso’s third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a manager, after losses with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.
Iraola said the win mattered because of recent home form. “Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league.” Liverpool face Arsenal on Sunday before meeting his former club Bournemouth in the last eight.
Alonso felt the margin was fine. “Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out.” He said his side had shown a good level but that the Premier League remains Chelsea’s main focus.
At the Etihad, Enzo Maresca made nine changes after Saturday’s defeat at Aston Villa, which ended City’s perfect start to the league season. Haaland, Dias, Anderson and Donnarumma were among those rested.
Brighton led through Malick Yalcouye after 30 minutes, but Mateo Kovacic levelled with a curling 25-yard finish. Georginio Rutter put the visitors back in front two minutes after the break.
Vitor Reis then deflected in a Rayan Cherki free kick in the 72nd minute to make it 2-2. In the shoot-out, Jason Steele saved Kovacic’s penalty, but Geronimo Rulli denied Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City through.
City will meet third-tier Bradford in the quarter-finals. Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0, and Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Fulham to set up a home tie with Sunderland, who beat Brentford 3-2.
Fourth-tier Fleetwood, who knocked out Arsenal on penalties on Tuesday, will face the winners of Everton against Newcastle on Thursday.