According to a report by Flashscore on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Liverpool at Anfield. The Blues were unable to secure qualification for the quarter-finals after losing 6-5 on penalties, with the encounter ending 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The fourth-round fixture brought together two of England's biggest clubs, with both sides determined to extend their participation in the domestic competition.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was hoping to lead his players into the next round, but Liverpool, under the guidance of Andoni Iraola, proved difficult to overcome.

The opening minutes saw both teams approach the contest cautiously, with neither side willing to make costly defensive mistakes.

Liverpool attempted to dictate the tempo through their midfield, while Chelsea focused on maintaining possession and creating opportunities whenever space became available.

Despite several attacking movements from both teams, clear chances were limited during the early stages.

However, the game became more interesting towards the closing minutes of the first half when Chelsea were presented with an opportunity to take the lead.

In the 40th minute, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch committed a foul inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award Chelsea a spot kick.

Morgan Rogers stepped up to take the penalty and successfully found the net, putting the visitors ahead and giving their supporters something to celebrate.

Chelsea's celebrations were short-lived, however, as Liverpool quickly responded with an equaliser just three minutes later.

Wesley Fofana was penalised for a handball inside Chelsea's penalty area, allowing the home side to restore parity from the spot.

Cody Gakpo accepted the responsibility and converted the penalty in the 43rd minute, ensuring Liverpool returned to level terms before halftime.

The first period consequently finished with both teams tied at 1-1, leaving everything to play for after the interval.

When the second half commenced, Chelsea showed greater urgency as they attempted to regain control of the encounter.

Alonso's players pushed forward in search of another goal, but Liverpool remained determined to prevent the visitors from establishing a second advantage.

The home side also created attacking pressure as the match progressed, with both teams recognising the importance of securing a place in the quarter-finals.

Changes were introduced from the substitutes' benches as the managers searched for solutions to break the deadlock.

Nevertheless, neither Liverpool nor Chelsea managed to produce another goal before the final whistle.

With the score remaining unchanged after regulation time, the match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout.

The shootout delivered a tense conclusion, with both teams converting several attempts as the battle for qualification continued.

Liverpool eventually emerged victorious by a 6-5 margin, with defender Joe Gomez scoring the decisive penalty to confirm Chelsea's elimination.

The result was particularly painful for the London club, considering they had initially taken control of the scoreboard through Rogers' first-half penalty.

Chelsea's inability to maintain that advantage ultimately allowed Liverpool to recover and secure their place in the next round.

For Iraola and his players, the victory represented another important step towards potentially winning the Carabao Cup this season.

Meanwhile, Alonso faces the responsibility of helping his Chelsea squad recover quickly from the disappointing result.

The Blues are expected to return to Premier League action against Manchester United on Saturday, October 31, in another important encounter.

Liverpool will also shift their attention towards domestic league football as they prepare to face Arsenal on Sunday, November 1.

Although Chelsea fought hard throughout the contest, Liverpool demonstrated greater composure during the decisive shootout to secure qualification.

The full-time score was Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea, while the penalty shootout finished 6-5 in Liverpool's favour.

The outcome means Liverpool advance to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, while Chelsea's journey in the competition comes to an end.