Chelsea’s Carabao Cup Final Loss to Liverpool Marks Unwanted Milestone in English Football
In a dramatic showdown at Wembley on Sunday, Chelsea etched their name into English football history record books for the wrong reasons, succumbing to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
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The clash between the two heavyweights witnessed an astonishing 42 attempts on goal, culminating in a late winner from Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, denying Chelsea the chance to push the contest to penalties.
Despite facing a Liverpool side without key players such as Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Adding to their woes, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off in the first half following a contentious challenge from Moises Caicedo.
Liverpool, fielding a lineup comprising young and inexperienced talents, defied expectations and matched Chelsea’s seasoned squad, as aptly remarked by Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville.
The defeat adds to Chelsea’s recent cup final woes, cementing their status as the first team to feature in six domestic cup finals. Their previous disappointments include defeats in the League Cup to Manchester City in 2019 and FA Cup final losses to Arsenal and Leicester City.
The setback against Liverpool mirrors their defeats in both cup finals to the same opponent in 2022, underscoring a concerning trend for the London club.
The Last Time When Chelsea won a Domestic Cup Final
Chelsea’s last triumph in a domestic cup final dates back to the 2018 FA Cup, where they secured victory against Manchester United.
With the FA Cup now their sole remaining opportunity for silverware this season, Chelsea gears up to face Leeds United in the fifth round on Wednesday.
In contrast, Liverpool’s Carabao Cup triumph marks their tenth title in the competition, propelling them past arch-rivals Manchester United as the most successful team in English football history.
Including a plethora of domestic and international accolades, Liverpool now boasts a staggering total of 68 trophies, edging past Manchester United by a narrow margin.