Quadruple still possible as Liverpool edge Chelsea to win FA Cup

Juergen Klopp's relentlessLiverpoolbeatChelsea6-5 on penalties in a fluctuating EnglishFACupfinalon Saturday to stay on course for an unprecedentedquadrupleof trophies.

An absorbing Wembley showpiece had somehow ended 0-0 after extra time despite a raft of chances and near misses for both sides with fine performances from the two goalkeepers.

Substitute Kostas Tsimikas slotted the winning penalty afterChelseacaptain Cesar Azpilicueta's had hit the post and Alisson had saved Mason Mount's effort.

Chelseakeeper Edouard Mendy had kept his side alive when he saved Senegal team mate Sadio Mane's penalty but it proved to no avail asLiverpoollifted the trophy for the first time since 2006.

It was a carbon copy of the LeagueCupfinalin February, whichLiverpoolwon 11-10 on penalties after that game also finished goalless.

"I'm really proud of my boys,"Liverpoolmanager Klopp said. "We are mentality monsters but there were mentality monsters inChelseacolours as well -- it was one penalty.

"Chelseaplayed outstanding but in the end there must be one winner and that was us today."

Saturday's win meansLiverpoolhave won 50 per centof their target for the season.

They are three points behind Manchester City in the Premier League race with two games to go and meet Real Madrid in the Champions Leaguefinalon May 28.

"This is something that will give us even more confidence to keep on going in the Premier League and also for the Champions Leaguefinal," Alisson, who made a crucial save from Marcos Alonso in the first half, said.

ForChelseait meant an unwelcome record of becoming the first side to lose threeFACupfinals in a row, after losing to Arsenal in 2020 and Leicester City last year.

Liverpoolhad the best of a pulsating first half with Luis Diaz close several times, beforeChelseacame back in the second, with Alonso rattling the crossbar.

Klopp'sLiverpoolenjoyed the greater possession and finished the 90 minutes on top, Diaz and Andrew Robertson both hitting the post in thefinal10 minutes and the indefatigable Diaz whistling a shot just wide in the 90th.

Tired legs on a warm day contributed to a rather anticlimactic extra time with both sides appearing to have decided to take their chances in a shootout.

Sadly forChelsea, as in February, it was a case of so near yet sofar although manager Thomas Tuchel had no regrets.

"Like in the lastfinal, the LeagueCup, no regrets. I told the team I was proud," he told reporters. "We played 240 minutes in twofinals against maybe the most dangerous attacking team in the world and it's 0-0."

"I was sure during the match the momentum was on our side but unfortunately I was not right."

The only blot on another memorable day forLiverpoolwas striker Mohamed Salah being withdrawn in the first half with an injury.

Liverpoolcaptain Jordan Henderson was handed theCupby Prince William to roars from theLiverpoolfans while theChelseaend had largely emptied.

"It's a big moment for us, we haven't been in thisfinalfor some time so to win it was special," Henderson said.

The win wasLiverpool's eighth in the 150-year history of theFACup, drawing them level withChelseaand Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal have won the most with 14.

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