Liverpool have gained their first FA Cup last since 2006, beating Chelsea at Wembley to safe their eighth victory in the competitors’s historical past.
In a repeat of the Carabao Cup last, the recreation was extremely tense between two groups very nicely matched, and went to extra-time after the 90 minutes someway completed goalless.
Both sides had probabilities to win the match with Alisson Becker and Edouard Mendy in good type, with the greatest of these alternatives maybe falling to Andy Robertson from shut vary after wonderful work from James Milner.
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But it was Kostas Tsimikas who was the match-winner. Here are the 5 things Liverpool.com spotted at Wembley as the recreation unfolded.
Penalties determine final result once more
Just like in the Carabao Cup last, spot kicks have been wanted to separate the groups after an enthralling and extremely tight encounter.
But this time, it was the second penalty that was missed, with Chelsea membership captain César Azpilicueta hitting the submit and Mason Mount additionally lacking.
Scorers for Liverpool: James Milner, Thiago, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, (Sadio Mané misses), Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas
Scorers for Chelsea: Marcos Alonso, (Azpilicueta misses), Reece James, Ross Barkley, (Mason Mount misses)
(Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Luis Díaz impresses
For the first jiffy of the recreation, Reece James couldn’t get close to Luis Díaz, as the Colombian teased him together with his tough dribbling capability on the left-hand facet.
Díaz must get extra objectives from the positions he will get into, however he’s exceptionally good at standing up his man and going previous him, inflicting defences complications each week. At some level, the objectives will begin to stream.
Alongside Sadio Mané, the pair have been electrical at Wembley. Their link-up has already come a great distance; Liverpool have to tie Mané all the way down to a brand new deal now in order that it may be additional prolonged into the seasons to come back.
Thiago proves some extent
The final time that Liverpool performed Chelsea at Wembley, Thiago Alcântara pulled out of the recreation in the warm-up. This time, the group in yellow couldn’t cease him from dominating.
His solely mistake was being gradual to the ball after a Virgil van Dijk move into him in the first half. Apart from that, he was distinctive, as much as and together with the penalty shoot-out.
N’Golo Kanté might need been lacking, however Mateo Kovačić performed. Both have precipitated Liverpool loads of points in the previous, however Thiago was on one other stage to the remainder of the midfield gamers on both facet.
Liverpool had by no means began with a Keïta-Henderson-Thiago midfield trio, however they labored very properly collectively, and have been complemented nicely with Milner too when he was launched.
Milner confirmed ranges of depth that somebody turning 37 on his subsequent birthday shouldn’t be capable of in the Wembley warmth. He was distinctive after being introduced on in place of Keïta with round 16 minutes of regular time to play.
Chelsea attacking menace handled
Kai Havertz was a relentless menace in behind the Liverpool excessive line the final time the facet’s met. While he didn’t handle to attain in that fixture, he was capable of disrupt the Liverpool defensive position.
Romelu Lukaku is a totally totally different sort of participant — equally as onerous to play towards at his peak — however Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté largely stood robust. When he was changed by Hakim Ziyech, that was one other totally different form of menace once more, however the Liverpool defence appeared good as soon as extra.
Like when Liverpool miss Roberto Firmino’s hold-up play at occasions in video games the place they arrive below sustained strain, Chelsea missed Havertz’s capability to hold them up the pitch and hold them there.
Potential double harm blow
With the Real Madrid revenge mission only a fortnight away, Mohamed Salah lasted about as lengthy in this recreation earlier than limping off as he did in Kyiv 4 years in the past.
Something was up with the Egyptian’s proper leg and Diogo Jota got here on in his place, taking part in on the right-hand facet as Salah had been. It has been reported by Bein Sports that it was muscle ‘soreness’; no shock after taking part in a lot soccer this season.
But the harm worries didn’t cease there. Virgil van Dijk was taken off for the interval of extra-time, with the Dutchman solely lasting the 90 minutes. It would appear odd for him to get replaced have been it something aside from an harm scare.
Liverpool have loads of top-class ahead choices and Joël Matip to name upon, however with the go to to the Stade de France in Paris to come back so quickly, the Reds will likely be sweating over a fuller replace.