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Kostas Tsimikas converted the decisive penalty
Photo: BEN STANSALL / AFP
Liverpool FC has won the second of four possible titles this season.
In the final of the FA Cup, coach Jürgen Klopp's team beat Thomas Tuchel's FC Chelsea 6-5 on penalties. Kostas Tsimikas scored the decisive penalty.
It was still 0-0 at Wembley Stadium after 120 minutes.
The two teams had already faced each other in the final of the League Cup in February, when Liverpool FC also won on penalties.
The Reds still have a mathematical chance of winning the Premier League, but they need to catch up on Manchester City on three points and seven goals in the last two games.
Another title is possible in the Champions League, the opponent in the final on May 28th in the Stade de France near Paris is Real Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold provided the highlight of the first half: Liverpool right-back tried his hand at playmaking once more, his outside of his foot pass half the pitch giving winger Luis Díaz a one-on-one situation against Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.
The world goalkeeper was the winner (8th minute).
Salah has to go
The game was otherwise rather poor in terms of scoring opportunities, Christian Pulisic (23rd) and Marcos Alonso (27th) at least had half chances.
Liverpool's offensive efforts were dampened after a good half hour when star striker Mohamed Salah was unable to continue: the right winger remained seated in the center circle and grabbed his groin before he had to give way to Diogo Jota (33').
After the change of sides, Chelsea increased the pressure.
An attempt by Alonso just wide of the goal, shortly afterwards a Pulisic chance (47'), followed immediately by a free kick by Alonso on the crossbar (48'): The Blues were getting closer to taking the lead.
However, the pressure phase subsided as quickly as it had come.
Liverpool got better, firing off a few warning shots that just missed Mendy's goal and seeing another strong showing from winter signing Díaz.
The Colombian just missed the corner (69'), then after a nice move only hit the outside of the post (83').
Andrew Robertson also failed on the aluminum (84th), again Díaz just missed the goal with a flick (90th).
Mané missed the first match point
This was followed by 30 minutes of largely uneventful extra time, during which both teams could see the many competitive games this season.
In the shoot-out, Chelsea second-scorer César Azpilicueta missed, but Mendy kept Chelsea in the game with a save from Liverpool's Sadio Mané's match point.
Defeat was only postponed: Alisson Becker blocked Mason Mount's shot, Tsimikas converted safely from the bottom left and brought the trophy to Merseyside.
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