Liverpool Beat Chelsea on Penalties to Reach Carabao Cup Quarterfinals

Liverpool advanced to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night after beating Chelsea in a penalty shootout at Anfield, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili the hero. He later spoke to the media with a red-and-white scarf draped around his neck.

The fourth-round tie was a hard-fought contest that neither side could settle in normal time. Both goals came from the penalty spot in the first half. Ryan Gravenberch's clumsy challenge on Moisés Caicedo gave Chelsea a spot-kick, which Morgan Rogers converted calmly. Minutes later, Wesley Fofana was penalised for handball in the area, and Cody Gakpo scored from 12 yards to level.

Both teams were missing key players. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made seven changes from the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 on Sunday, leaving Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola on the bench. Chelsea were without several first-team regulars, including Cole Palmer, who was suspended for one match after his red card against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. The game was the sixth in a run of nine matches in 29 days for Liverpool.

The second half was livelier. Mike Penders made good saves to deny Ronald Araujo and substitute Barcola, while Mamardashvili did well to divert a powerful drive from Marco Palestra past the post. The home supporters, though, made a point of celebrating the small moments. Lewis Koumas, standing in for Isak, was applauded for a 40-yard sprint to win the ball back from Malo Gusto. Araujo drew cheers for a crucial interception in his own box, and Rio Ngumoha was serenaded with chants of his name as he won a series of free kicks against his former club. Trey Nyoni, 19, left the field to a standing ovation when Alexis Mac Allister replaced him late on.

The Kop kept up the support through the shootout, singing for each Liverpool taker. Kostas Tsimikas sent his effort over the bar and Gravenberch had his attempt saved by Penders, but teammates rallied around both. Mamardashvili then got down low to stop Chelsea debutant Emmanuel Emegha. Joe Gomez, who has not scored in 279 appearances for Liverpool and had never taken a competitive penalty, fired his kick into the top corner. Fofana then blazed his attempt over the bar to send Liverpool through to a meeting with AFC Bournemouth in the last eight.

"It means everything to play for this club and we know every game, especially here, is massive for us," Gomez told ITV. He said the new management team wanted to show fight and grit, and that the players kept going until the end.

Iraola pointed to the bond between players and supporters. "The players are feeling the support from those in the stands and when we are all together, we create an atmosphere," he said. "Even when we were losing, there was a feeling of: 'Let's go. Come on.'" He noted it was the third home game in a row that had ended with a good feeling, and said he hoped to complete a run of four in a row at home on Sunday.

That match brings a major test against Premier League champions Arsenal, arguably the sternest Liverpool have faced under their new head coach. The team is still in its early stages under Iraola and has plenty to prove, but the resilience on show against Chelsea suggests it has the stomach for the fight.