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Liverpool and Chelsea a tight fight for 120 minutes in final Carabao Cup 2021/2022. The Reds finally became champions after winning on penalties.
In the match which was held at Wembley Stadium, Sunday (27/2/2022) night WIB, Liverpool received a crushing blow when Thiago Alcantara, who was installed as a starter, got injured during the warm-up. As a result, Naby Keita had to enter to replace Thiago in the final minutes before kickoff.
Without Thiago, Liverpool had difficulty serving Chelsea in midfield. Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante were able to dominate Fabinho, Keita, and Jordan Henderson.
In the sixth minute, Chelsea got their first chance on the counter-attack. In the position of four attacking players, Chelsea was able to penetrate Liverpool’s defense from the right side.
Cesar Azpilicueta provided a pull bait which was greeted by Christian Pulisic’s kick in the penalty box but right in the arms of Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool are trying to get out of Chelsea’s pressure slowly. The first chance came in the 17th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s crossing met Sadio Mane in the penalty box, but his header went wide.
After the game was running for 25 minutes, Liverpool turned to dominate but still struggled to create chances. In the 30th minute, Mane threw another chance in front of Chelsea’s goal.
Keita’s wild ball went straight to him, but Mane’s flick was too slow for Edouard Mendy to parry. Liverpool and Chelsea exchanged attacks in the remainder of this first half. But, until halftime, the score remained 0-0.
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Sadio Mane’s shot was saved by Edouard Mendy Photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan— |
There were no changes in the second half. Chelsea immediately stepped on the gas to endanger Liverpool’s goal in the 49th minute through Mount who was free in the penalty box, after escaping the offside trap.
Only to beat Kelleher, Mount’s shot hit the inside post and failed to score.
Chelsea continued to press Liverpool’s defense which struggled to develop the game in the second half. However, Liverpool were able to threaten the first time in this round through Salah in the 64th minute.
It started with a Mendy pass error that fell at the feet of Liverpool players and continued with a through ball to the left side. Salah ran free to meet the pass and was able to beat Mendy in a one-on-one duel.
However, Thiago Silva quickly cleared the ball before rolling into the net. Three minutes later, Liverpool could score a goal through Joel Matip continued the free kick situation.
From Trent’s free kick, Mane who went forward at the far post headed in again and was put in the net by Joel Matip. The goal was then annulled by VAR because Virgil van Dijk was deemed to have violated Reece James in the process.
 Joel Matip goal disallowed Photo: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill— |
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