Mamardashvili sends united Liverpool past Chelsea on penalties

Liverpool reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by beating Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday night, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili mobbed by his teammates after his shootout heroics.

Andoni Iraola, the Liverpool boss, told his post-match news conference that he could feel the togetherness in his squad and was very happy about it. He added that this was the third home game his side had finished with a good feeling.

That spirit was clear in the shootout, where the Kop serenaded every Liverpool player who walked up to the spot. Teammates gathered round Kostas Tsimikas after he fired over, and did so again when Penders kept out Gravenberch's effort. Mamardashvili then dived low to deny Chelsea debutant Emmanuel Emegha.

Joe Gomez, still without a goal in 279 appearances for the club and never previously trusted with a competitive penalty, drilled his kick into the top corner. Wesley Fofana then sent the decisive attempt over the bar, while Gomez said the players wanted to show fight and grit for a new management team.

Iraola had rotated heavily, making seven changes and leaving Isak, Wirtz and Barcola among the substitutes. In the first half, Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo each scored from the spot, Gakpo's chance coming after Fofana was penalised for handball.

Liverpool now turn to a meeting with Premier League champions Arsenal on Sunday, with AFC Bournemouth awaiting them in the last eight.