Tuchel shoulders the blame for huge call on hit-and-miss Kepa

QUESTIONS about Chelsea’s ownership and the club’s uncomfortable position over the Russian invasion of Ukraine hung heavy in the air ahead of the Carabao Cup Final but, over the course of 120 pulsating minutes and a clinical penalty shoot-out it was hard to focus on anything but the football.

LIVERPOOL WIN 11-10 ON PENALTIES

Dan Kilpatrick Chief Football Correspondent at Wembley

Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

While Roman Abramovich has so far failed to condemn Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine, many of Chelsea’s fans made their own positions clear, with a number of yellow and blue flags and banners at both ends of Wembley yesterday.

There was a minute’s applause before kick-off to “show solidarity” with the Ukrainian people and captains Cesar Azpilicueta and Jordan Henderson took to the field carrying yellow and blue wreaths, before both teams came together for a photo in another display of support.

If the occasion began sombrely, it concluded in hilarity for everyone supporting Liverpool when Kepa Arrizabalaga, the goalkeeper who was brought on for the shoot-out, failed to save 11 consecutive spot-kicks before missing the decisive effort. Chelsea lost 11-10 following a breathless 0-0 draw.