Liverpool have thrown out Chelsea in a penalty shootout in the fourth round match of the EFL Cup 2026/27 on Wednesday 28 October, 2026 at Anfield.
After a showdown that finished 1-1 in normal time, Iraola’s Reds came out winners with a 6-5 victory on penalties, and reach the quarter finals of the competition.
Five (5) minutes to halftime, Morgan Rogers put Xabi Alonso’s Blues in front from the penalty spot, but, the visitors’ lead was cancelled when Cody Gakpo levelled for the home side from the penalty spot also just three (3) minutes after.
Both Iraola and Alonso executed series of changes from the Premier League games last weekend; Reds boss made seven (7) changes from the contest against Brighton, while, the former Real Madrid manager made four (4) for Chelsea.
The two (2) goalkeepers were literally untested in the encounter until the 40th minute when the game became lively.
The Blues had to replace centre-back Maxence Lacroix with Levi Colwill after picking up an injury before halftime, while, Iraola, brought on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola as replacements for Lewis Koumas and James McConnell.
After both penalties in the first half, the game became too tight that neither side was able to find the winner, and it went straight to penalties (without extra time) where the hosts clinched their ticket to the quarters.
The result means Liverpool will now face AFC Bournemouth, former club of Iraola, in the EFL Cup quarter finals at Anfield. The Cherries booked their place in the last eight following a 3-0 whitewash of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the fourth round match at Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.
In one of the other games, Manchester City progressed after knocking out Brighton in a penalty shootout 4-3 following a game that ended 2-2.
Results
| EFL Cup 2026/27 (Fourth Round) – Wednesday 28 October, 2026 |
| Manchester City 2-2 Brighton (Pen 4-3) |
| AFC Bournemouth 3-0 Aston Villa |
| Fulham 0-1 Crystal Palace |
| Sunderland 3-2 Brentford |
| Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Pen 6-5) |
Next for Liverpool and Chelsea?
Both sides will now shift focus to their Premier League games this weekend.
Liverpool will face defending champions, Arsenal, on Sunday 1 November, 2026 at Anfield at 17:30 (WAT), while, Chelsea will play against Michael Carrick’s Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 31 October, 2026 at 13:30 (WAT).
Currently, Liverpool and Chelsea are 4th and 5th on the table with fifteen (15) and thirteen (13) points respectively.
