WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON — 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.
On an afternoon dampened by injuries for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool prevailed 6-5 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes. Konstantinos Tsimikas scored the winning spot-kick, following a brilliant save from Alisson to deny Mason Mount.
On the 150th anniversary of the world’s most-loved domestic cup, a gloriously sun-kissed day here in north-west London saw an entertaining game befitting the occasion. Just like in February, it was gripping despite ending goalless, with chances aplenty at both ends.
In fact, all four games between the Reds and Blues this season have been brilliant viewing, with all four ending as draws – despite their pair of cup final heartaches, Thomas Tuchel’s men have impressed throughout. It’s a saga that has continued one of football’s great modern rivalries, one steeped in the contrasting ideologies of the two clubs.
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.
But that Chelsea pressure only came after Liverpool’s forward line was broken up by an injury to Salah. Worryingly just a fortnight ahead of the Champions League final in Paris, the Egyptian King was seemingly forced off with a muscle issue, having not been in a collision.
At the end of regulation time, the same fate befell Virgil van Dijk. To lose two talismanic figures, after the midweek knock for crucial midfield cog Fabinho, is perhaps proof that something simply had to give. Going into late May having played every possible game in a campaign (aside from replays) is bound to cause a case of the walking wounded.
But, Liverpool were not to be beaten. This team are, after all, “Mentality Monsters”. 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. Not that it mattered, with the deafening volume of those travelling from Merseyside.
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.
