Liverpool 0 - 0 Chelsea (AET) Liverpool win 6-5 on penalties
In what was a very exciting game at Wembley the 0-0 full time scoreline probably does an injustice.. Both teams went at each other as they did in the League Cup Final before.. It was by no means a boring stalemate..
In extra time you could see fatigue had set in a bit and the penalties.. Well.. Wow.. We will cover that later.. But Alisson's crucial save from Mount and Tsimikas scoring the winner will live forever in our memories..
We have a long tradition of left backs and right backs to that point scoring important goals in finals over the years..
The First 90:
The game started very quick in our favour and Chelsea just could not handle our explosive attacks.. In particular Luis Diaz.. Operating down the left hand side he caused the young Chelsea defender Chalobah problems all game..
We could have easily been 3 up in ten minutes.. With a bit of luck.. Thiago and Mo just missing out on connecting with Diaz crosses, and Diaz himself shooting at the keeper when a bit of height on his shot would have definitely broke the deadlock..
Chelsea had to regroup and Reece James sat a bit deeper to stem the flow and they started to keep possession and created a couple of chances themselves. Pulisic and Alonso pulling a shot wide and producing a great save from Alisson..
Salah Injury:
The game hit a bit of a plateau at the mid way stage of the first half when first Ali went down injured from the Alonso save. Then Mo went down in what looked like a groin strain / tweek.
Liverpool were taking no chances and brought Jota on to replace Salah.. This didn't really upset our flow too much as Jota is playing well himself and links up nicely with Diaz & Mane..
This nearly paid off just before half time when Jota put a bit too much on a close range effort after a nice cross from Andy Robbo. With the keeper out of the equation he only had to hit the target but the ball sailed over..
The Diaz Show & Extra Time:
The second half carried on in a similar vein.. They started a bit quicker and Alonso hit the crossbar from a free kick.. Then the Diaz show continued.. He was by far the best player on the pitch and came close with quite a few efforts..
Shooting just wide of the left post.. Curling two just past the right hand upright.. And hitting the post when free in the right hand side of the box. If he had hit the target with any of them they would have been certain goals..
The Penalties
A lot of people were thinking if we start how we did against City then we can blow Chelsea out of the water. Which we nearly and should have really done.. The pundits all predicted a draw and Liverpool win on penners and who are we to disappoint..
As we all know we never do things the easy way. There is always tension and a few twists.. After Azpilicueta missed early on in the shootout everybody else scored and it was down to Mane..
He stepped up against his fellow countryman Mendy and the keeper saved quite easily to his left.. With both teams level Chelsea had the advantage. Ziyech stepped up and planted his penalty into the right hand corner..
Now this was the most important penalty for me.. If Jota missed we lose.. Simple.. He had so much pressure on his shoulders but he smashed his penalty into the top right hand corner.. Cool as you like.. I don't know how they do it..
Aliiiiiiii:
Mason Mount was next as we know.. But the commentators produced a stat that Mount hasn't won a domestic final in 5 attempts.. I was particularly liking that stat and he looked a bit unsure..
He connected really well but Ali was up for this and flew to his left to produce the game changing save. He celebrated on his knees fingers pointed towards the heavens in an obvious salute to his late father.
Tsimikas You Beauty:
Now as we mentioned our full backs just love to score winners in Cup Finals. Cue Kostas Tsimikas our Greek Scouser.. He came on for the cramped up Robbo in extra time..
This was his destiny.. He looked cool and focused. He asked for penalty number seven and here it was.. He stepped up and curled a lovely little low shot into the bottom corner and everything went wild..
That picture of him on Adrians shoulders will stay with me forever. We really know how to celebrate..
The FA Cup & Domestic Double Are Won..
What a day and what a team.. The Hendo shuffle was back in full effect. Diaz dropped the lid haha.. And for the second time this season we beat Chelsea in a Cup Final and paint London red..
With City drawing at West Ham the League Title is still a possibility.. A win at Southampton means we will have everything to play for in our last two games. You have to believe.. You just have to with this team.. One thing is for sure they will never give up..
In one of those last two games we are guaranteed another European Cup Final.. Is it the time for our other full back to shine.. Trent has now won all six major trophies at 23 years of age.. Wow.. 23.. Crazy.. You wouldn't rule him out scoring would you..
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