LIVERPOOL BEAT CHELSEA ON PENALTIES TO CLINCH FA CUP

LONDON: Liverpool won the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties. The match went into penalties after neither side managed to break the deadlock in 90 minutes of normal time and 30 minutes of extra time. Liverpool’s eighth FA Cup title keeps their quadruple dreams alive. Liverpool have already won the League Cup, are in the race for the Premier League title and play Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League on May 28.

In the shootout on Saturday, Cesar Azpilicueta missed the second penalty for Chelsea, hitting the right post with his right-footed shot, but Edouard Mendy kept Chelsea in the hunt by saving Liverpool’s fifth penalty by Sadio Mane. Mason Mount’s missed penalty, though, proved costly for Chelsea as Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas scored from the spot to give his side victory.

The FA Cup final seemed like a repeat of the League Cup final in February, which Liverpool won on penalties after neither side scored in the 120 minutes. On that occasion, the first 21 penalties were all converted before Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga missed his to hand Liverpool the title.

Liverpool had a little more possession than Chelsea and enjoyed the better chances, but they were unable to make the most of them.

Liverpool suffered a blow early in the game as star forward Mohamed Salah went off injured in the 33rd minute of the game.

Salah was replaced by Diogo Jota.*