Ireland keeper Caoimhín Kelleher scored the decisive penalty as Liverpool lifted the English League Cup at Chelsea’s expense.
The Corkman, who played as a striker until he was 14, struck his penalty into the corner before Kepa Arrizabalaga shot over the bar.
Kelleher is second in line to the Ireland international jersey, behind Firhouse’s Gavin Bazunu, but he has the trust of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel opted to take off his number one Édouard Mendy at the end of extra time in favour of shoot-out specialist Kepa.
Kepa has saved four penalties in shoot-outs so far this season but he couldn’t get near any of the ten outfield Liverpool players.
Nor could he get near Kelleher’s coolly-taken peno, and Tuchel’s gamble didn’t pay off as Kepa but his penalty over the bar.
The sides had been held scoreless throughout 120 minutes as both sides had goals ruled out.
Liverpool were denied a winner in normal time as Joel Matip’s header was ruled out for a foul by Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku found the net in extra time but he was correctly found to be offside and it went down to a shootout.
All 20 outfield players found the net, so it was left to the goalkeepers. Kelleher made his mark, but Kepa was wayward to leave the Liverpool fans in raptures.
