Future bright for Liverpool
Liverpool’s amazing season continued on Saturday as for a second time this year they left Chelsea on the wrong end of a penalty shoot out at Wembley Stadium, this time lifting the FA Cup to go with the English League Cup they won at the same venue at the end of February.
Juergen Klopp’s Reds have played every game possible this season, and still had a chance of a remarkable quadruple at the end of Saturday’s action.
Even if Manchester City deny Liverpool the English Premier League, Liverpool will complete a knockout treble of they can beat Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris on 28 May.
Klopp said after Saturday’s final that Liverpool had been working with a company that specialises in the art of penalties, and it certainly worked against Chelsea, as whatever they threw at Liverpool didn’t work. In the Carabao Cup final, Thomas Tuchel’s side brought on Kepa Arrizabalaga for regular number one Edouard Mendy at the end of extra time.
But Kepa didn’t save a single penalty and even missed the decisive kick, in an epic shootout.
On Saturday, Mendy stayed on the pitch and even though he did save from Liverpool’s best striker left on the pitch, his Senegalese team-mate Sadio Mane, Liverpool still won, with Cesar Azpilicueta hitting the post and Allison saving from Mason Mount.
Chelsea can take some pride in taking Liverpool to penalties on two occasions, and reaching two cup finals in a season where off-the-field distractions – the club was ultimately put up for sale after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government – might have sent them into a tailspin.
Ultimately, however, they have only the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup to put in the cabinet this season, while they also have an unwanted tag of having lost three FA Cup finals in three years.
Chelsea also face an uncertain and anxious future, with new owners and players already on the way out.
For Liverpool, the future is only bright, with Klopp just signing a new contract and the trophies pouring in.