The last time Liverpool and Chelsea competed in League Cup finals, both games were decided on penalties.
Both losing to Man City, on each occasion the goalkeeper was the story.
In 2016, Jurgen Klopp’s side drew 1-1 after Philippe Coutinho had cancelled out Fernandinho’s opener, before veteran reserve shot-stopper Willy Caballero saved from the Brazilian, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana in the shootout to emerge as City’s hero and justify his selection ahead of first-choice Joe Hart.
Caballero would join Chelsea on a free transfer in 2017 and was at the centre of a final storm against his former side in 2019, when manager Maurizio Sarri tried to bring him on late in extra-time ahead of penalties as the sides fought out a 0-0 draw.
Unfortunately for the Italian, first-choice and £71m summer signing Kepa Arrizabalaga spectacularly refused to be replaced, defying his manager’s attempt to substitute him in an unprecedented challenge of authority, with Sarri backing down in a rage.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp will not repeat 'desperate gamble' for Chelsea after Liverpool mistake
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel makes Roman Abramovich admission before Liverpool final
Kepa would save from Leroy Sane in the shootout but misses from Jorginho and David Luiz saw Raheem Sterling clinch a 4-3 victory for Pep Guardiola's side, with Sarri departing Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
It would be no surprise if the goalkeepers were the story again when Liverpool take on Chelsea in Sunday’s final at Wembley, with Klopp confirming number two Caoimhin Kelleher will start ahead of first-choice Alisson.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel is expected to make a similar decision with Kepa coming in in place of first-choice Edouard Mendy, where he will inevitably have a score to settle given his previous League Cup final appearance.
Despite Kelleher being first-choice for the Reds in domestic cup competitions, and Klopp confirming the Irishman would start the final weeks ago, the German’s decision has proven slightly controversial with club legend Jamie Carragher voicing his disagreement with the call.
“I will never understand the theory behind selecting a second-choice goalkeeper in a major final,” Carragher wrote in his latest column for the Telegraph. “Liverpool will play Caoimhin Kelleher ahead of Alisson Becker. Chelsea will do likewise if – as expected – Kepa Arrizabalaga starts ahead of Edouard Mendy.
“It is nothing against those players. The Spanish keeper is a world-record signing for a No. 1 and Kelleher has done well when called upon, playing a big part in Liverpool getting to Wembley.
“It is more the principle of leaving a world-class keeper on the bench I struggle with, especially in a final where small details make all the difference. This cup final logic only seems to apply to keepers.
“In the early rounds of the cups, plenty of youngsters and back-up players get their chance, but they realise they will be stepping aside if Wembley beckons.
“That’s why Liverpool’s Kaide Gordon played in the semi-final, but may not even make the bench this weekend. Why is it any different for back-up keepers? As a fan travelling to Wembley, I would always be more comfortable knowing the best XI is starting.”
It is easy to see where Carra is coming from.
But what must be taken into consideration is that the 23-year-old is no bog-standard number two goalkeeper.
In Alisson, the Reds boast one of the very best, if not the best, goalkeepers in the world. In Kelleher, they possess arguably their best back-up in the Premier League era.
Admittedly in Carragher’s playing days, the majority of Liverpool’s goalkeepers were, Pepe Reina aside, inconsistent, inexperienced and either error-prone or injury-prone.
And even then one of the Spaniard’s biggest howlers came in the 2006 FA Cup final.
David James, Brad Friedel, Sander Westerveld, Pegguy Arphexad, Jerzy Dudek, Chris Kirkland, Scott Carson, Brad Jones and Doni - it’s no wonder why the former Reds defender is such an advocate of always playing your strongest shot-stopper.
But Liverpool are in a rather different place now than during Carragher’s career, having emerged as one of the best sides in the world, and Kelleher has never let Klopp down. Impressing whenever turned to, including numerous times on this cup run, he deserves his Wembley opportunity.
If he left Anfield in the summer, there are very few clubs in England where he wouldn’t be first-choice, with only the quality of the number one in front of him limiting his game-time and preventing the goalkeeper rotation that could be witnessed regularly behind Carragher before Reina’s arrival.
When the Reds take to the field at Wembley, all eyes will be on Kelleher. But as his manager said: “As always, if it works out, then it’s all about Caoimhin. If it doesn’t work out, then it’s all about me.”
Klopp’s last big goalkeeping call saw him install Loris Karius as his first-choice for the second half of the 2017/18 season, with it ending horrendously in tears in Kiev in the Champions League final.
But such is Liverpool’s faith in Kelleher, Sunday won’t be a decisive day in the Irishman’s Reds career, even though the stage is set for him to play a defining role.
And there is one very good reason why the youngster should start the final regardless - penalties.
There is no guarantee that this year’s League Cup final will go to penalties, but with nothing to separate the Reds and Chelsea in their two Premier League meetings this season, it would be no surprise if proceedings went all the way at Wembley.
Since Bruce Grobbelaar’s famous spaghetti legs against AS Roma helped win the European Cup on penalties in 1984, Liverpool have won the Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup and the European Super Cup courtesy of shootouts.
That latter triumph came against Chelsea the last time the two sides competed in a final, with the Reds coming out on top in the 2019 European Super Cup. Having also beaten the Londoners on penalties in the 2007 Champions League semi-finals, they head to Wembley with a 100% shootout record against them.
There was a time when the Reds were effectively the club equivalent of Germany when it came to penalties, losing only three of the first 16 shootouts they contested between 1974 and 2015.
But then, ironically, Klopp came along and Liverpool’s record under the German has been far from solid.
Competing in eight shootouts under his watch, the Reds have won four while falling at the final hurdle in the League Cup final and two Community Shields.
And with current goalkeepers Alisson, Kelleher and Adrian featuring in two of Klopp’s shootouts apiece, the Irishman boasts the best record.
Alisson conceded all 10 penalties as Liverpool twice lost in the Community Shield, falling to 5-4 shootout defeats to both Man City and Arsenal.
Adrian was the hero in the European Super Cup against Chelsea when making his first start for the Reds, saving once from Tammy Abraham to clinch the cup with a 5-4 win, while he also saved from Mohamed Elneny but to no avail in a League Cup exit in October 2020 as Liverpool lost by the same score.
As for Kelleher, he has won both shootouts he has competed in for the Reds, in 5-4 League Cup victories over Arsenal and Leicester City as he saved once from Dani Ceballos in October 2019, before denying Luke Thomas and Ryan Bertand to be the hero in this season’s quarter-finals.
Klopp could have easily reinstated Alisson for Sunday’s League Cup final, but Kelleher has earned this chance. And if penalties are needed, he is Liverpool’s best bet to clinch victory.
At the very least by starting him, the Reds are ensuring there will be no goalkeeper tantrum, from their side at least, as Kepa and Chelsea return to Wembley and stand in their way of League Cup glory.
