Liverpool has won the FA Cup final after defeating Chelsea in a penalty shootout at Wembley.
Reminiscent of the Carabao Cup final earlier this year, Liverpool proved victorious in a 6-5 penalty shootout over the Londoners.
Konstantinos Tsimikas scored the winning penalty for Liverpool after Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount’s attempts were saved by Alisson. Today’s result keeps Liverpool’s hopes alive for an unprecedented quadruple. The Reds are already in the Champions League final and still hoping for a Man City Premier League slip.
Liverpool are leaving absolutely nothing out on the field in their pursuit of the quadruple. It is now two down, two to go, after a second cup final penalty shootout win against Chelsea this season saw Jurgen Klopp’s team add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they lifted at Wembley three months ago. But with Mohamed Salah limping off with a groin strain after just 33 minutes and Virgil van Dijk unable to play beyond the 90th minute, time will tell as to the full cost of this victory over Thomas Tuchel’s side, which saw Chelsea earn the unenviable distinction of becoming the first team in FA Cup history to lose the final in three successive seasons.
“We are mentality monsters, but there were mentality monsters in blue as well,” Klopp said. “It was one penalty [between the teams]. Chelsea played outstanding, but in the end, there must be one winner and that was us today.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my boys, the shift they put in, how hard they fought, the early changes.”
“It was intense – Chelsea would have deserved it exactly the same way we did, just like in the Carabao Cup – that’s how small the margins are,” added Klopp.
“Chelsea played outstanding but in the end there must be one winner and that was us today.”
“The quadruple thing is absolutely outstanding that we can talk about it. It’s crazy,” added Klopp. “It’s out of this world – this was game number 60 in an intense season.”
Van Dijk failed to re-emerge for extra time, although Klopp later claimed the defender suffered a “hurt muscle” but was “fine” while Robertson’s issues appeared to be cramp-related.
Mohamed Salah has revealed he will be fit to play for Liverpool in the Champions League final after limping off injured against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
