Liverpool 1 – 1 Chelsea
The Reds: Gakpo 43’ (pen)
Tories: Rogers 40’ (pen)
Pre-Match
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola isn’t letting the Big Name of Chelsea scare him away from throwing a bunch of kids into the lineup for this League Cup Fourth Round matchup, and you know what? I’m here for it.
Going back to front, Mamaardashvili starts between the sticks, Araujo and Van Dijk keep their spots in the lineup, joined by Gomez and Tsimikas in the backline. McConnell and Nyoni get starts in the middle of the park, joined by Gravenberch. Rio and Gakpo
are on the wings, and Koumas starts up top with the clear instruction to press the hell out of everyone until his legs fall off.
First Half
The opening fifteen minutes is pretty cagey and quite disjointed, with the only noteworthy event being Koumas’s booking for a tackle that looked worse in real time than it really was in actuality. A few minutes later McConnell joins him in the book for a similarly aggressive—though once again harmless—tackle.
Liverpool have a few decent chances to play Gakpo in, but repeatedly miss him out with some pretty straightforward passes.
About five minutes before the half, Gravenberch makes a very clumsy challenge in the box. It’s a clear pen and Chelsea convert.
And now Liverpool get a pen of their own! The Chelsea defender just swatted a ball out of the air, and even without VAR it’s a clear penalty and given. Gakpo steps up to the spot and sends the keeper the wrong way.
Second Half
On the hour mark, Iraola makes his first two subs: Barcola on for Koumas, and Wirtz on for McConnell.
Shortly after the sub, Liverpool create their best chance of the evening with a diving header from Big Ron Araujo. It’s a great header, but the keeper was well positioned to make the save.
Gakpo and Wirtz combine to create a great chance from six yards out, but Wirtz’s shot is blocked (and was probably off target anyway).
Mac Allister and Isak come on with about 10 minutes of regular time to go, with Rio and Nyoni making way.
Penalties
Liverpool (6): Mac Allister O, Isak O, Gakpo O, Wirtz O, Tsimikas X, Barcola O, Gravenberch X, Gomez O
Chelsea (5): Neto O, Rogers O, Lavia O, Barco X, Henderson O, Colwill O, Emegha X, Fofana X
Final Thoughts
Liverpool advance to the next round. Good?
