Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after 1-1 draw in Carabao Cup
Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out at Anfield after a 1-1 draw in the Carabao Cup fourth round, and go on to the quarter-finals. Wesley Fofana missed the decisive kick for Chelsea.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties at Anfield on Wednesday 28 October after a 1-1 draw, reaching the Carabao Cup (League Cup) quarter-finals. Evening StandardN “the hosts won 6-5 after a 1-1 draw” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Gulf NewsN “Liverpool beat Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to reach the League Cup quarter-finals” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2Both goals were penalties near the end of the first half. Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moises Caicedo, and Cody Gakpo equalised three minutes later after Wesley Fofana handled the ball. Gulf NewsN “Rogers put Chelsea in front with a 40th-minute penalty after Gravenberch clattered into Moises Caicedo.”“Liverpool were level three minutes later with a penalty of their own as Gakpo converted from the spot following Fofana's handball.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Evening StandardN “before Fofana inexplicably raised an arm to allow Cody Gakpo to equalise” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard described the match as short on quality and said Gravenberch's lunge on Caicedo was unnecessary because the midfielder was heading away from goal. Evening StandardN “The game itself had been short on quality and the fact two needlessly-conceded penalties brought the only goals” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1In the shoot-out Chelsea's Valentin Barco hit the post, and Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas blazed over when a miss by Chelsea would have let him win it. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders then saved from Gravenberch, and Liverpool's Giorgi Mamardashvili saved from Chelsea debutant Emmanuel Emegha. Gulf NewsN “Chelsea's Valentin Barco hit the post in the shoot-out before Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas wasted a chance to win it when he blazed over.”“Ryan Gravenberch was denied by Chelsea keeper Mike Penders, but Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha's kick to keep Liverpool alive” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Joe Gomez, who the Standard said had not scored in 280 appearances for the club, converted for Liverpool, and Fofana then sent Chelsea's next kick over the bar. The Standard counted 20 penalty kicks in the match. Evening StandardN “Joe Gomez, who has not scored in 280 appearances for the club, struck the decisive spot-kick for the hosts, with Wesley Fofana subsequently blazing over.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Evening StandardN “a match decided by no less than 20 penalty kicks” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The result was a third defeat in three visits to Anfield as a manager for Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder, following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025. AFP also framed the tie as a meeting of childhood friends, Alonso and Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola. Gulf NewsN “It was former Liverpool midfielder Alonso's third defeat in his three visits to Anfield as a manager following losses with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.”“In a clash between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 1Alonso made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, while Iraola made seven from Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday. Gulf NewsN “Alonso made just four changes to the Chelsea side that lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, while Iraola made seven changes” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Iraola said three home wins in a row were important after Liverpool's struggles at home in the league, and noted a Premier League game against Arsenal on Sunday. Liverpool face Bournemouth in the last eight. Alonso said someone always feels it is harsh to go out on penalties, that Chelsea showed a good level, and that the Premier League is the main focus. Gulf NewsN “"We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important. We were struggling at home in the league but now we go against Arsenal on Sunday,"”“"Every time you reach the penalties, someone will feel it is harsh to go out of the competition.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Alonso explained that enforced substitutions for Maxence Lacroix, Caicedo and Malo Gusto limited his options, and that Estevao stayed on the bench. He said Estevao's lack of physicality and recent injury explain his limited minutes, and added: "Trust me, I'm sure the season is going to be long and Este is going to play his role." Evening StandardN “enforced substitutions for Maxence Lacroix, Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto left him hamstrung”““Trust me, I'm sure the season is going to be long and Este is going to play his role.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The Standard's analysis criticised Alonso's selection and midfield set-up of Jordan Henderson, Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, said the trio was outplayed by Liverpool's 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, and called the lack of use of Estevao baffling. It added that the performance was not disastrous and that Chelsea host Manchester United on Saturday. Evening StandardN “was upstaged by 19-year-old Trey Nyoni is not a good look for the Blues.”“Alonso’s persistent refusal to utilise the talents of Estevao, one of the game’s brightest talents, remains baffling.”“This was not a disastrous performance by any means” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Chelsea have won two of their last six matches, according to the Standard. Elsewhere on the night, holders Manchester City beat Brighton on penalties after a 2-2 draw and will face third-tier Bradford in the quarter-finals. Evening StandardN “The result leaves Chelsea with just two wins in their last six matches” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Gulf NewsN “City will meet third-tier Bradford for a place in the semi-finals.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Evening Standard coverage is Chelsea-focused: match report, player ratings and analysis of Alonso's selections and midfield. The AFP report carried by Gulf News is a straight round-up of the League Cup night, including Manchester City and other ties.
- Emphasis
- Fofana's handball and missed penalty, the Alonso-Estevao question, Chelsea's midfield and the pressure on Alonso; AFP stresses the Alonso-Iraola link and the wider round of results.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Standard pieces say little about Liverpool's manager or Liverpool's quarter-final prospects. The AFP copy has no analysis of Chelsea's selection.
- Charged language
- “epic shootout”“crumbles under shootout pressure”“disgraceful playacting”“baffling”
- For example
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“Wesley Fofana crumbles under shootout pressure as Blues exit Carabao Cup” — Evening Standard
“Alonso’s persistent refusal to utilise the talents of Estevao, one of the game’s brightest talents, remains baffling.” — Evening Standard
“In a clash between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso” — Gulf News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
- Rogers scored for Chelsea and Gakpo for Liverpool, both from the penalty spot before half-time.
- Fofana's missed kick ended the shoot-out after Gomez scored for Liverpool.
- Alonso suffered another defeat at Anfield as a manager.
Xabi Alonso person
Alonso accepted that penalty defeats feel harsh, said Chelsea showed a good level and that the Premier League is the main focus, and defended his handling of Estevao, citing forced substitutions and the intensity of English football.
“"We were showing a good level and this is what it takes to come to these stadiums. The Premier League is the main focus."” — Gulf News
““I understand his situation and that he could be happier for sure,”” — Evening Standard
Liverpool FC organisation
Liverpool's side were hosts who advanced; manager Iraola said they were happy with a third home win in a row after home struggles in the league.
“"We are really happy. Three wins at home in a row is very important.” — Gulf News
Chelsea FC organisation
Chelsea are portrayed as having been undone by a handball penalty, a shaky midfield and a missed kick in the shoot-out, with questions over selection.
“The conversation would have been different had Chelsea come up trumps in the shootout.” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre5 articles
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Evening StandardN · · Opinion
Critical Player ratings that single out Fofana's handball and miss and criticise several Chelsea players' performances.
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Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on pens): Reds progress to Carabao Cup quarter-final after epic shootout
Mixed Match report stressing a low-quality game, two needless penalties and Gomez's decisive kick.
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Xabi Alonso's Chelsea to-do list becomes clear as Liverpool defeat lays issues bare
Critical Analysis arguing that Alonso's selection and midfield exposed Chelsea's problems.
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Xabi Alonso sends Estevao message as Chelsea substitutions explained: 'Trust me'
Sympathetic Relays Alonso's explanation of Estevao's limited minutes in his own words.
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Gulf NewsN · · via AFP
Liverpool beat Chelsea in League Cup shoot-out
Neutral AFP round-up of the League Cup night, led by the Liverpool shoot-out and including Manchester City, Bournemouth and other ties.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 28 Oct 22:18 First Evening StandardN Chelsea player ratings vs Liverpool: Wesley Fofana crumbles under shootout pressure as Blues exit Carabao Cup Opinion
- 28 Oct 22:22 +4m Evening StandardN Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on pens): Reds progress to Carabao Cup quarter-final after epic shootout
- 28 Oct 23:02 +44m Evening StandardN Xabi Alonso's Chelsea to-do list becomes clear as Liverpool defeat lays issues bare
- 28 Oct 23:19 +1h Evening StandardN Xabi Alonso sends Estevao message as Chelsea substitutions explained: 'Trust me'
- 29 Oct 01:08 +2h 49m Gulf NewsN Liverpool beat Chelsea in League Cup shoot-out via AFP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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