Reds Break Chelsea Hearts as Man City Survive Brighton Scare to Reach Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals

Liverpool and Manchester City booked their places in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night after winning dramatic penalty shoot-outs against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively.

English football giants Liverpool and Manchester City demonstrated their resilience on October 28, 2026, as both clubs overcame difficult challenges to secure their places in the last eight of the competition.

While Liverpool defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Anfield, Manchester City overcame Brighton 4-3 in a shoot-out after an entertaining 2-2 encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

The results ensured that both sides remain in contention for the trophy, with Manchester City continuing their defence of the Carabao Cup title.

Liverpool Eliminate Chelsea in Dramatic Shoot-Out

Liverpool secured a hard-fought victory over Chelsea in a match that delivered plenty of tension, determination and late drama.

The two Premier League rivals struggled to find a breakthrough during the opening stages before the contest came alive towards the end of the first half.

Chelsea took the lead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers confidently converted a penalty after Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moises Caicedo inside the penalty area.

However, Liverpool responded just three minutes later when Cody Gakpo converted a spot-kick of his own after Wesley Fofana handled the ball inside the box.

Both teams created opportunities to find a winner during the second half, but neither could produce the decisive goal needed to avoid a penalty shoot-out.

The shoot-out proved equally dramatic, with several players missing their attempts before Liverpool eventually prevailed 6-5.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili played an important role in Liverpool's triumph, saving Emmanuel Emegha's penalty before Fofana sent Chelsea's decisive attempt over the crossbar.

The victory sent Liverpool into the quarter-finals, where they will face Bournemouth at Anfield.

Manchester City Edge Brighton on Penalties

Meanwhile, Manchester City also experienced a challenging evening against Brighton.

The match finished 2-2 after normal time, forcing the defending champions to settle the contest through penalties.

City showed determination to remain in the competition despite Brighton's resistance, eventually winning the shoot-out 4-3.

The result secured Manchester City's place in the last eight, where they will welcome League One side Bradford City.

Quarter-Final Race Intensifies

With Liverpool and Manchester City through, attention now turns to the quarter-finals, scheduled for the week commencing December 14.

Both clubs will be confident of progressing further, although their latest performances demonstrate that the competition remains unpredictable.

For Chelsea and Brighton, the defeats represent disappointing exits from a tournament that offered opportunities to compete for silverware.

Liverpool and Manchester City, however, have successfully navigated difficult fourth-round encounters and will now focus on maintaining their momentum as the Carabao Cup reaches its decisive stages.

Source https://x.com/i/status/2115670019380031925