Liverpool won the FA Cup for the eighth time in club history on Saturday. The team of coach Jürgen Klopp was too strong for Chelsea in the final at Wembley after penalties.
No goals were scored in London in both regular time and extra time, so a penalty shootout had to make the decision. Liverpool was the strongest in this with 7-6.
Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time since 2006. Previously, ‘The Reds’ won the English Cup in 1965, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992 and 2001.
Earlier this season, Liverpool and Chelsea also met in the final of the League Cup. Then after 120 scoreless minutes it also turned into penalties, which Liverpool then won 11-10 after a blood-curdling series.
Liverpool had to deal with a damper after more than half an hour of play, when Mohamed Salah had to leave the field with an injury. It is not yet known how serious the Egyptian’s injury is. Liverpool will play the Champions League final against Real Madrid in exactly two weeks.
Colombian Luis Díaz played a very strong game.
Colombian Luis Díaz played a very strong game. Photo: Getty Images
Díaz makes it difficult for Chelsea defense
In the first half, Liverpool had the better of the game, with Luis Díaz as the star. The Colombian attacker has constantly troubled the Chelsea defense with his individual actions. In the eighth minute, Salah headed over, after Díaz had previously seen a shot turned by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
Chelsea then grew in the game and had chances to open the score via Christian Pulisic, Marcos Alonso and Romelu Lukaku. Just before half time, Jota failed to give Liverpool the lead. The Portuguese suddenly took a cross from Andrew Robertson on the slipper, but shot over.
Chelsea started the second half strongly and created danger via Alonso and Pulisic. Both teams then created chances, but failed to score.
In the final phase, Hakim Ziyech came on the field at Chelsea and Liverpool came close to the winning goal a number of times. For example, Díaz hit the post after a fine individual action and Robertson missed an imposed chance; his bet also hit the post.
Virgil van Dijk was immediately substituted for Liverpool in extra time and both teams could hardly become dangerous, so that a penalty shoot-out had to make the decision. César Azpilicueta missed on behalf of Chelsea, after which Sadio Mane failed to decide the fight. Mason Mount then saw his bet turned and former Willem II defender Kostas Tsimikas finished it off.