Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: FA Cup final result, final score and reaction as Liverpool win penalty shootout
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties): Follow reaction from Wembley as Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties
Liverpool have won the FA Cup after beating Chelsea on penalties at Wembley. Kostas Tsimikas scored the winning penalty in sudden-death, after Alisson saved from Mason Mount.
Liverpool and Chelsea met in a rematch of February’s Carabao Cup final, and this encounter played out in remarkably similar fashion. Both sides had several opportunities to win the match in normal time and althought the frantic nature of the contest slowed in extra time, it followed 90 breathless minutes at Wembley.
Liverpool made a bright start and threatened early through Luis Diaz, who was denied by Edouard Mendy in the first chance of the match, but Chelsea came back into it in what was a level first half. Alisson also made a good save to stop Marcos Alonso while Christian Pulisic and substitute Diogo Jota had chances, but it was an injury to Mohamed Salah that was the most notable incident of the first half, with the Liverpool forward coming off on 32 minutes with a groin problem.
It was Chelsea’s turn to start quickly after the break, as Alonso went close and Alisson saved Pulisic’s effort, before Alonso hit the crossbar with a free-kick. Diaz and Jota were next to whistle shots narrowly wide, and then Andy Robertson hit the post with a volley from close range. As the final crept closer to extra time, Diaz curled a shot narrowly wide on the breakaway to almost win the final in the closing seconds.
Follow reaction from Chelsea vs Liverpool in the 2022 FA Cup final, below:
Kick off: Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
Chelsea - dressed in the yellow kit - get the game underway with a long ball up the pitch. There’s a bit of headed interplay before the ball drops to Liverpool who try to quickly play Mo Salah in down the right only for the diagonal pass to skip out of play.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
The warm-ups are done and it’s almost time for kick off. Which way is this one going to go?
All three meetings between Chelsea and Liverpool have ended in draws this season with Liverpool winning the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout.
Are we heading for a similar scenario this afternoon?
Jurgen Klopp on winning trophies for Liverpool
Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp says his players need to enjoy playing in a ‘special game’ at Wembley but rues the schedule that will cut short any celebrations if the Reds were to win the trophy today. He said:
“It’s a busy season, but it will never happen that the FA Cup is just a normal game. It’s a special game and, for some, the biggest in their career. We want to enjoy it and deliver for our people.
“We couldn’t celebrate the Carabao Cup because we played three days later. If we win FA Cup it’s the same. We had a parade with Dortmund when we won the cup. It was big. Now we play Southampton instead of a possible parade.
“I’ve never won the FA Cup before and most of my players have never won it before. We are really looking forward to this opportunity.
“The boys worked their socks off to arrive here, with all the different challenges over the year.
“It’s now a massive final for us and I’m really happy we are part of it. We always gave our all to arrive to the final [previously], we just didn’t make it.”
The supporters arrive at Wembley
There is expected to be 90,000 fans arriving at Wembley to watch the FA Cup final live this afternoon with millions more watching the tv broadcasts.
It’s a stark contrast to the previous two editions when the 2019 final was played behind closed doors and the 2020 final had a limited capacity of 20,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tuchel on starting Kovacic
Thomas Tuchel spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of kick off and explained his delight in choosing to start Mateo Kovacic in midfield today.
“It was nice [to pick Mateo Kovacic], I couldn’t believe it but he trained yesterday. He wants to play.” he said. “We take the risk and see if it works in the match.
“There was no need to change up top. Why break the rhythm? You don’t need to lift anyone for a cup final. We are close to the stadium, we see the arch every day.
“We want to win in yellow today.”
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Sadio Mane has six goals in 16 appearances against Chelsea, while Mohamed Salah has scored four in 14. How important will this two be for Liverpool’s chances today?
Mane on what winning the FA Cup would mean
Sadio Mane has been speaking about the determination in the Liverpool dressing room to win the FA Cup today and increase the Reds’ trophy haul to two for the season.
“We’ve been talking about it in the dressing room,” he said. “I’ve been asking the boys, ‘When was the last time Liverpool won it?’ I think it was a long time ago. Not only the players, I think all the fans around the world are very excited to win it again.
“Years ago, we won the Premier League, Champions League, so winning the FA Cup will be massive for us, for everyone at the club as well and the fans.
“Like I always say, a final is always special, especially in this season. We know already our target from the beginning is to do everything possible to win all the trophies possible.
“So we have a chance to make another step, so let’s see what’s going to happen because we know we’re going to face a very, very good side. Everything is possible, so we will see.”
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