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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Matt C Jones

Andy Robertson makes 'desperate' Caoimhin Kelleher admission after Liverpool Carabao Cup win

Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson has admitted he was "desperate" for Caoimhin Kelleher to save a penalty in the Carabao Cup final shoot-out before he had to take his kick.

The Reds were winners in the Wembley showpiece on Sunday, eventually prevailing 11-10 on penalties after it finished 0-0 after extra-time

All of Liverpool's and Chelsea's outfield players converted their spot-kicks, meaning it went down to the two goalkeepers.

Kelleher, a striker in his younger days, hammered his effort past Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had been brought on at the end of extra-time by Thomas Tuchel for the impending shoot-out, to put the Reds 11-10 in front.

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel makes 'weird' Chelsea claim and Liverpool admission after Carabao Cup final defeat

READ MORE: What Gary Neville said live on Sky while Liverpool were lifting Carabao Cup

And that was the way it stayed after Kepa then blazed his attempt a long over the bar.

"I was desperate for him (Kelleher) to save one, especially when I knew mine was coming up," said Robertson, to LFCTV.

"But his penalty was ridiculous and keepers... I think that's where penalty shoot-outs are horrible when it gets to the end and it's lads that are the least confident and don't really want to take one.

"They sometimes decide the finals and it's tough. But Caoimhin's penalty was different class and then obviously their keeper blasted it over the bar. So the most important thing was we won it and whatever way we were willing to do it, whatever way possible.

"It had to go to penalties and luckily we all scored ours!"

Robertson said neither team were at their best on the day and commented on the gruelling nature of what was a breathless encounter despite the lack of goals.

"It's been really tight between us and Chelsea all season," he said. "The two games in the Premier League have both been draws and then today we both had chances. I think they probably had the better chances to be honest with you. Quite an open game.

"I think at the end everyone was just knackered. You could see both teams looking at each other thinking 'when will this end?' It was really tough on the body and a lot of work has been put into this.

"The longer it goes someone has to miss a penalty. It's horrible really, but fortunately it wasn't one of our lads."

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