Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to reach Carabao Cup QF
Synopsis
Xabi Alonso's return to Anfield ended in a penalty shootout defeat as Liverpool edged Chelsea 6-5 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. On the same night, Bournemouth dismantled Aston Villa 3-0 — making it three former European champions felled by the Cherries in this campaign alone.
Key Takeaways
Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties at Anfield on 29 October after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Joe Gomez scored the decisive penalty; Wesley Fofana missed for Chelsea to seal the result.
Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Vitality Stadium , with goals from Adli , Cook , and Rodriguez .
Crystal Palace reached the last eight for a third consecutive season — a club record — by defeating Fulham at Craven Cottage .
Sunderland defeated Brentford 3-2 at the Stadium of Light to also advance.
Liverpool edged out Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at Anfield on 29 October 2026, ending a tense last-16 tie that had finished 1-1 after normal time. The result meant a disappointing return to Anfield for Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, the Spaniard denied a victory on a ground where he made his name as a player.
How the Game Unfolded
Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for the visitors, only for Cody Gakpo to level matters with a composed finish inside the final five minutes of the first half. Neither side could find a decisive second goal across the full ninety minutes, sending the tie straight to a penalty shootout in front of the Kop.
In the shootout, Joe Gomez converted Liverpool's decisive effort before Wesley Fofana missed for Chelsea, settling the tie at 6-5 in the Reds' favour. Liverpool have now won all three Carabao Cup meetings between the two clubs in recent seasons.
Bournemouth Dismantle Aston Villa 3-0
Elsewhere, AFC Bournemouth produced a commanding 3-0 victory over five-time winners Aston Villa at Vitality Stadium to secure their own quarter-final berth. Amine Adli got the Cherries moving in the seventh minute with a composed finish, before Lewis Cook doubled the advantage six minutes into the second half — his first goal in more than two years. Alvaro Rodriguez completed the scoring in the 69th minute, finishing clinically after a sharp lay-off from Tyler Adams.
The result marked a fourth quarter-final appearance in Bournemouth's history and extended a remarkable run against former European champions — AC Milan, Manchester United, and now Aston Villa have all fallen to Marco Rose's side in this competition.
Crystal Palace Extend Craven Cottage Record
Crystal Palace reached the last eight for a third successive season — a club first — with a victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Eddie Nketiah's instinctive near-post flick in the first half proved the difference, extending Palace's remarkable winning run at that ground to five straight victories. The Eagles will host Sunderland at Selhurst Park in the quarter-finals.
Sunderland Edge Brentford in Thriller
Sunderland recovered from a difficult league run to defeat Brentford 3-2 at the Stadium of Light. Three first-half goals put the Black Cats firmly in control, before Callum Wilson's consolation and Igor Thiago's late strike for Brentford made for a nervous finish that Sunderland ultimately survived.
Quarter-Final Picture
The Carabao Cup last eight now features Liverpool, who face AFC Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace, who host Sunderland, among the confirmed ties. Further quarter-final draw details are expected in the coming days as the remaining last-16 ties conclude.
Point of View
But the story of this Carabao Cup round may well be Bournemouth's. Defeating three former European champions — Milan, United, and now Villa — in a single cup run is not a coincidence; it is a statement about Marco Rose's defensive structure and set-piece threat. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso's Chelsea project faces an early cup exit that raises questions about squad depth at a club spending heavily to compete on all fronts. Crystal Palace's third consecutive quarter-final appearance also deserves recognition — quiet consistency from a side rarely given top-billing.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup?
Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties at Anfield on 29 October after the match ended 1-1 in normal time. Joe Gomez converted Liverpool's decisive kick, and Wesley Fofana's miss settled the shootout in the Reds' favour.
Who scored in the Liverpool vs Chelsea match?
Morgan Rogers scored the opener for Chelsea, while Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool in the closing stages of the first half to make it 1-1, which remained the score at full time.
What was the Bournemouth vs Aston Villa Carabao Cup result?
Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Vitality Stadium, with goals from Amine Adli, Lewis Cook, and Alvaro Rodriguez. It was Bournemouth's fourth quarter-final in their history.
Which teams are in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?
Liverpool, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are among the confirmed quarter-finalists. Liverpool will face Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace host Sunderland in the last eight.
Why is Xabi Alonso's return to Anfield significant?
Xabi Alonso is a beloved former Liverpool midfielder who spent years at the club, making his return as Chelsea manager emotionally charged. His side's penalty shootout defeat means he left Anfield without the win many neutrals were watching for.
