Liverpool

Kostas Tsimikas struck the winning penalty as Liverpool triumphed in the FA Cup final, downing a spirited Chelsea after 120 hard-fought minutes at Wembley ...

And what a finale it was for Alisson and Tsimikas. It appeared ominous as the little Egyptian didn’t appear to have been caught in an obvious incident. The pass was too heavy and allowed Alisson the time to close the gap and block. In fact, it took Chelsea a full quarter-hour before they secured any meaningful possession in Liverpool’s half but by the end of the opening 45 minutes had posed just as much of a threat. His shot was only partially blocked by the keeper’s legs and it needed Trevor Chalobah to belt clear as the ball threatened to cross the goal line. Nothing could prise this same duo apart in the Carabao Cup three months ago and it was a similar story at Wembley as fortunes ebbed and flowed.

Alisson Becker was the spot-kick hero as Liverpool secured another penalty shoot-out triumph against Chelsea to win the FA Cup and keep their quest for an ...

Diaz clipped the outside of the right-hand post from a difficult angle in the 83rd minute and just a minute later Robertson clattered the other post when meeting James Milner’s cross on the volley from close range. Christian Pulisic steered a Mount cross narrowly wide and played through Alonso when Chelsea returned to the attack, only for a poor touch to allow Alisson to smother. Thiago Silva was hurt as Chalobah cleared and the break in play helped take the sting out of Liverpool’s start, allowing Chelsea to grow into the final and begin posing problems at the other end. It was a third FA Cup final defeat in as many years for Chelsea, who were denied a 22nd and final trophy of the Roman Abramovich era in gutting fashion. But Chelsea saw out the early storm and began to ask questions at the other end in a first half that saw Reds star Mohamed Salah limp off injured. Wembley was rocking to Liverpool’s beat at full-time, just as it was in the opening minutes as they flew out the blocks.