Becker makes Chelsea pay penalty once again
Liverpool
Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties
ALISSON Becker was the spot-kick hero as Liverpool secured another penalty shoot-out triumph against Chelsea to win the FA Cup and keep their quest for an unprecedent quadruple alive.
Just 76 days after the Reds edged past Thomas Tuchel’s men on penalties following a scoreless Carabao Cup final, Wembley witnessed another gripping clash between these sides that went down to the wire.
Nothing could split them after 90 minutes and extra time again, with Alisson coming up trumps in the shoot-out as Liverpool won their first FA Cup since 2006.
Edouard Mendy prevented Sadio Mane striking the winner after Cesar Azpilicueta had hit the post, only for the Brazil goalkeeper to deny Mason Mount before Kostas Tsimikas struck to seal a 6-5 win.
While the quadruple may eventually prove out of reach given Manchester City’s Premier League advantage, Jurgen
Klopp’s Reds still have a shot at Champions League glory to come as a superb season heads towards a memorable conclusion. Reds boss Klopp becomes the first German manager to win the FA Cup.
“It was outstanding, another incredibly tense game against Chelsea, and they would have deserved it exactly the same way,” he said on BBC Two.
“The small margins are again the difference and I cannot be more proud of my boys, the shift they put in.”
Klopp continued: “In the penalty shoot-out, it was nerve wracking and my nails are gone. But I really feel for Chelsea, it is the second time that after 120 minutes, you get nothing. That is too hard, but for us I am pretty happy.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said on BBC: “We have worked so hard all season, so to come here and get over the line means a lot to everyone – the players, the fans deserve it, the whole club, so it is a big moment for us.
“We have not been in this final for a long time, so to come here and win it is pretty special.”