Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat after extra time against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, February 25.
The Blues came into the match with a decent run of form, hoping to find consistency after two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five games. Despite conceding 11 goals and scoring 10 in those matches, they aimed to stabilize their performance.
Under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership, Chelsea faced Manchester City in their previous game, ending in a 1-1 draw. To maintain their momentum, they needed a strong showing. Pochettino fielded his strongest lineup for the final, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.
While Chelsea started the first half with promising possession at 46%, they managed only two shots on target compared to Liverpool’s three, resulting in a relatively uneventful first period.
The second half mirrored the goalless pattern, with neither team finding the back of the net despite a combined 20 shots. Chelsea recorded 11 shots, while Liverpool had nine attempts, but the deadlock persisted.
With the game deadlocked, extra time ensued, marking the third occasion in recent years that Chelsea and Liverpool found themselves in such a situation in a cup final. Although neither side could break through in the first period, the game took a dramatic turn in the second.
Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, connected with Konstantinos Tsimikas’ corner kick and headed it into the net in the 118th minute, securing a late 1-0 lead. The goal proved to be heartbreaking for Chelsea, who remained competitive until that decisive moment, as Liverpool held on for the victory.
