Twitter reacts as Liverpool beat Chelsea in incredible Carabao Cup final

Right, has everyone calmed down? Good, let's digest a truly ridiculous 2022 Carabao Cup final with the help of some of your Tweets.
This one had everything: refereeing controversy, interesting team selections, horrific misses, disallowed goals and a penalty shootout.
Congratulations Liverpool and commiserations Chelsea - but today, football was the winner.
???? ????? ???
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2022
????????? pic.twitter.com/79Vr3FIvV7
Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and tick off the first of a potential quadruple this season! ? pic.twitter.com/fjlndc9Tl4
— 90min (@90min_Football) February 27, 2022
There were plenty of discussion points before the game even got underway...
After getting injured in the warm-up Thiago Alcantara was replaced in the starting XI by Naby Keita, with Harvey Elliott drafted onto the bench.
? Thiago Alcântara in tears after suffering an injury in the warm-up for Liverpool pic.twitter.com/eNEylkX2r1
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 27, 2022
Thiago ??????
— Becky Taylor-Gill (@beckytaylorgill) February 27, 2022
Thiago in tears on the bench before kick-off with Alisson consoling him. It's a massive blow for the #LFC midfielder and sometimes it's easy to forget how much these occasions mean to the players
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) February 27, 2022
Thiago crying has made me shed a tear.
— - (@AnfieldRd96) February 27, 2022
Football can be horrible.
Thiago takes over from Steve Morrow in League Cup final injury emotional impact power rankings
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) February 27, 2022
Thiago injured in warm up.
— Pray For Me ?? (@Fpl_pain) February 27, 2022
Title gone
Thiago in tears as he’s comforted by Alisson. ☹️
— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) February 27, 2022
A word on those pre-match scenes too. Before the game got going both sets of players and fans showed their solidarity to the people of Ukraine.
This was followed by the national anthem, which was booed by much of the Liverpool's travelling support - as it often is.
In solidarity with Ukraine ?? pic.twitter.com/L1mM2G8GN4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2022
Nice touch from Chelsea to play in Ukrainian colours today. ??
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) February 27, 2022
The pre-match imagery at the Carabao Cup Final is…intense.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) February 27, 2022
Wembley asked to stand and applause in “show of solidarity with Ukraine from the football family”. Followed by National anthem which is booed by many Liverpool fans pic.twitter.com/pRkfAUUsnS
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) February 27, 2022
Big Ukrainian flag in Chelsea end pic.twitter.com/nRuCHbagIj
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 27, 2022
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
Wembley stands together for Ukraine. Incredibly powerful and emotional. pic.twitter.com/HvjfuAfFPL
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) February 27, 2022
Good to see a smattering of Ukrainian flags at both ends of the ground before kick-off #CFC #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/H1xKVF11yD
— Krishan Davis (@krishan_davis) February 27, 2022
You'll never walk alone drowning out the national anthem ???
— Will (@lfc_arrow) February 27, 2022
Liverpool supporters singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and it’s quite clearly a message of support to the people of Ukraine ??.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) February 27, 2022
Liverpool supporters continuing to sing their over the top of the English national anthem for reasons well documented.
Liverpool fans booing the national anthem is hilarious especially because it rattles the right people ahahhaa
— R (@rjb_1998) February 27, 2022
It took just six minutes for Chelsea to manufacture the first big chance of the game with Cesar Azpilicueta laying one on a plate for Christian Pulisic, who saw his effort saved.
Some Blues fans were not happy at the American for failing to open the scoring.
Pulisic has to score
— Marrotti 7611053 (@AliquamScripto) February 27, 2022
He gotta apologise for his Griddy first. https://t.co/zHxVss0dM2 pic.twitter.com/Db3bAJCN9O
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) February 27, 2022
Christian Pulisic has to score there. Great work from Havertz
— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) February 27, 2022
That Pulisic chance is going to haunt us isn’t it…
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) February 27, 2022
Watch Tuchel leave Mount on for the full 90 and sub Havertz and Pulisic out
— ??? (@BadChelsTakes) February 27, 2022
Pulisic,my word! Why are Chelsea’s attackers so wasteful?
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) February 27, 2022
Brilliant reflexes from Kelleher. Pulisic will feel he should score.
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) February 27, 2022
Pulisic made a hero out of the goalkeeper. He should have no chance of saving that.
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) February 27, 2022
Another early flashpoint came when Thiago Silva went down with an injury.
Having been forced off early during last year's Champions League final the Brazilian was desperate to stay on and after being given a painkiller he dusted himself off and got back in the fray.
Thiago Silva down and needing treatment. Surely not another injury for the Brazilian in a final?
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
Please not another Thiago Silva injury in a final ?
— CFC-Blues ⭐️⭐️ (@CFCBlues_com) February 27, 2022
One tackle and Thiago Silva needs a painkiller ????? Such an overrated player…
— Lατιf? (@iLatif_) February 27, 2022
Thiago down. That's Thiago Silva. Not a good day for Thiagos so far at Wembley
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) February 27, 2022
It looks like Thiago Silva given a painkiller to continue. #CFC #CarabaoCup
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 27, 2022
After this it was Liverpool's chance to rue a golden chance with Sadio Mane somehow denied by the inspired Edouard Mendy on the half-hour mark from close range.
An amazing double save from Mendy in the #CarabaoCupFinal ?pic.twitter.com/TuiksVVzkD
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 27, 2022
Incredible reflexes from Edouard Mendy! ? pic.twitter.com/32RUTlFWvO
— 90min (@90min_Football) February 27, 2022
A frankly outstanding save by Mendy, wow! ?
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 27, 2022
? 0-0 ? [31’] #CarabaoCupFinal
What a superb double save from Mendy. ??
— Gary Lineker ? (@GaryLineker) February 27, 2022
Edou Mendy has just justified why he started this game. Outstanding double save. #CFC
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
We don’t call Mendy the best in the world for no reason.
— Conn (@ConnCFC) February 27, 2022
Edouard Mendy is the Best Goalkeeper in the World.
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) February 27, 2022
MENDY!!!!!!!!!
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 27, 2022
Incredible. First save, great. Second save, beyond special.
How did that stay out? Mendy saves from Keita and then the keeper does brilliantly to stop Mane tucking away the rebound
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) February 27, 2022
“It’s been a long road for Mendy, he’ll be 30 next week, two years ago he was on the dole” pic.twitter.com/FO63h7CJIA
— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) February 27, 2022
The theme of missing huge opportunities continued right up to half time with Mason Mount squandering the best chance of all.
Soon after the half-time whistle went. PEEP PEEP.
Another quick break from Chelsea as Pulisic slides it through to Havertz.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 27, 2022
He squares to Mount, but his effort is wide. Big chance.
? 0-0 ? [45’] #CarabaoCupFinal
0-0 HT. Big saves from both keepers and a big miss from Mount.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) February 27, 2022
At least we've been reminded in this first half why Thomas Tuchel wanted Chelsea to sign a reliable goalscorer last summer.
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
Huge miss from Mason Mount from 12 yards out.
Two HUGE misses now, Mount and Pulisic. No excuse at this level, don't take chances like that don't deserve to win.
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) February 27, 2022
FAAACK!
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 27, 2022
Mount has to finished that. UGH. What a run from Pulisic.
This is agonizing.
MOUNT ARE YOU KIDDING ME PISS OFF
— Mod (@CFCMod_) February 27, 2022
Better than Mount ? pic.twitter.com/iHrJmkUxcD
— Molly (@Molly_AFC) February 27, 2022
Good half of football, if not very frustrating.
— Williannick (@BallTherapyYan) February 27, 2022
....soo....swap Mount and Pulisic around?
Nah Mount is costing us this game that filthy bastard
— ??? (@BadChelsTakes) February 27, 2022
The interval did little to shift the narrative of this final with Mount failing to convert another sitter a few minutes into the second period.
This time he placed an effort into the post after being slipped through on goal.
Beating the offside trap ?
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 27, 2022
Striking the upright ?
Mason Mount comes so, so close to putting Chelsea in front! ? pic.twitter.com/xNgWI7roYi
Thomas Tuchel dropped to his knees and pounded the floor twice after Mason Mount hit the post.
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
That's got to be a goal from the academy graduate. #CFC
Get Mount off the pitch immediately, hall of shame performance.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) February 27, 2022
Omg Mount. This is painful.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 27, 2022
Mount misses again and Trent loses his man again
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) February 27, 2022
Werner would be abused for weeks for this Mount performance
— CE ✍️ (@CatenaccioEra) February 27, 2022
I’m sorry but when poachers like Pulisic and Havertz are creating good chances, Mount has no excuse. Get him out of the club.
— ??? (@BadChelsTakes) February 27, 2022
Embarrassing from Mount. No other word.
— Chris. ?? (@EmenaIo) February 27, 2022
Mount you had 3 minutes to finish that are you taking the piss???
— Chiddy ?? (@chiddyafc) February 27, 2022
Liverpool were offering comparatively little as the game wore on, and their afternoon could have got trickier if Naby Keita had been sent off for a late challenge on the hour mark.
Most of Twitter agreed the midfielder was lucky not to be dismissed...
Keita leaves a high and late foot in on Chalobah. The defender stays down.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 27, 2022
? 0-0 ? [60’] #CarabaoCupFinal
To be fair, Chalobah's genitals did go in late on Keita's studs #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) February 27, 2022
Naby Keita is lucky that I assume VAR don’t want to get involved and ‘ruin’ the spectacle of a final at 11v11, that looked a variant of what Josh Dasilva was sent off for yesterday - tried to control the ball, missed it, so the challenge was a late and very bad one.
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) February 27, 2022
How did Naby Keita not get a red card for that challenge on Chalobah? Definitely a sending off if you ask me
— lucy pritty (@lucypritty1) February 27, 2022
Naby Keita you make me sick
— Ibrahima Konate (@Sayef__) February 27, 2022
I hate what Naby Keita just did there so much.
— Mcebisi (@McMtshali) February 27, 2022
Dangerous but not red. Instead of bloody acting, get up, say sorry to the man you just chopped down, and play on.
Minutes later Liverpool took the lead completely against the run of play... or so they thought.
Joel Matip pounced at the back post to finish off a sublime set piece, but in the build-up Virgil van Dijk's foot was offside. More VAR drama for Chelsea at Wembley – except this time Chelsea were the beneficiaries.
Some fans love VAR…@ViaplayFotball pic.twitter.com/nDL8Rd8Psl
— Jan Aage Fjørtoft ?️? ?? (@JanAageFjortoft) February 27, 2022
Nonsense var
— Hairul Izlan (@HairulIzlan) February 27, 2022
Two of the worst VAR decisions in the history of the football in less than 24 hours. English refs are garbage
— • (@The_Gerrard_Era) February 27, 2022
Flare smoke left hanging in the air from a technically correct VAR decision to rule out a goal that we all hate is a good image for football in 2022.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) February 27, 2022
That’s worse than yesterday’s VAR that. Insane.
— Adam Rowe (@adamrowecomedy) February 27, 2022
People say VAR ruins the moment of celebration but there is something hilarious about those flares going off only for Attwell and England to go "nah, you're alright".
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 27, 2022
Nevermind, VAR stole it from us https://t.co/vntryGmnNG
— Lucas (@mytakesonthings) February 27, 2022
The drama did not stop there either. First Kai Havertz saw a goal ruled out for offside, then Virgil van Dijk had a header saved well by Mendy. Romelu Lukaku went extremely close too.
There were also goalmouth scrambles galore before the full-time whistle was finally blown. History will likely remember this as one of the best 90 minutes of goalless football ever.
Chelsea and Liverpool had a combined 29 shots in 90 minutes ?
— GOAL (@goal) February 27, 2022
HOW WAS THAT 0-0?! pic.twitter.com/c3injJHWFd
Think we can all agree this is the best 0-0 90 minute game we’ve seen in ages.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) February 27, 2022
Best 0-0 draw in history? I think it has to be. What a game…
— George Benson (@MrGeorgeBenson) February 27, 2022
One of the best 0-0 you will ever see! What a game! Two fantastic teams, two amazing keepers’ performances. And we even get 30 minutes more of it!
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) February 27, 2022
Actually one of the best 0-0 matches I have ever seen, so much was happening
— Galu (@PSGalu) February 27, 2022
That is one of, if not the best, 0-0’s you will ever see in 90 minutes of football.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) February 27, 2022
What a spectacular cup final. Incredible drama, so many missed chances, incredible saves and end to end action.
This could have easily had 10 goals after 90 minutes. Everyone take a breath!
We barely had time to catch our breath before the game's next moment of controversy, with substitute Romelu Lukaku having a goal ruled out for offside.
Replays then showed how ridiculously close he was to opening the scoring.
Cold Lukaku finish, attackers should be given the benefit in those situations honestly
— Trey (@UTDTrey) February 27, 2022
How is that offside, I don’t get it? Brilliant play from Lukaku as well…
— TC (@totalcristiano) February 27, 2022
? - Lukaku's goal is disallowed due to offside. pic.twitter.com/fQNYk0eGVl
— ??? ???? ? (@TheEuropeanLad) February 27, 2022
VAR has to assume that Lukaku was capable of finishing that chance with his left armpit guys #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) February 27, 2022
Lukaku's arm hair was offside, how f*cking ridiculous.
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) February 27, 2022
The Werner/Lukaku Stay Onside Challenge™
— Joe Doyle (@joedoyle_) February 27, 2022
Lukaku being offside after scoring because he was pointing for the pass is its own great tragedy
— Zito (@_Zeets) February 27, 2022
THAT WAS ONSIDE! Van Dijk playing Lukaku on. Ally McCoist and Andy Townsend calling it on @talkSPORT - incredible decision!
— Adrian Durham (@talkSPORTDrive) February 27, 2022
Lukaku right now pic.twitter.com/DziTPLiufr
— Average Striker (@AverageStriker) February 27, 2022
Watching Werner and Lukaku thinking they’re in, and realising they’re offside… pic.twitter.com/dGO9Ymvbys
— Louis Beneventi ??⭐️⭐️ (@Louis_Beneventi) February 27, 2022
Thought we'd seen enough offside goals? Think again.
In the second half of extra time Havertz had the ball in the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled out AGAIN.
Havertz has the ball in the net again, offside.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 27, 2022
? 0-0 ? [110'] #CarabaoCupFinal
Tuchel has covered around 14km in aborted celebrations around his technical area today #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) February 27, 2022
? - Havertz scored but it’s offside. pic.twitter.com/6qFa7bf5qD
— ??? ???? ? (@TheEuropeanLad) February 27, 2022
Linesman is gonna get MOTM at this rate.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) February 27, 2022
Can someone please stay onside FFS?!
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
Goal.... of course it's offside.
— Jason Bourne ??? (@JasonBourne1986) February 27, 2022
The final kept on giving right until the death too, with Kepa Arrizabalaga being brought on for Mendy to face the spot kicks.
As if you need reminding, this was an incredible plot point due to the events of the 2019 Carabao Cup final – as everyone on Twitter was keen to point out.
?The last time Kepa was subbed on for a penalty shootout...
— SPORF (@Sporf) February 27, 2022
?Can history repeat itself? pic.twitter.com/jHEeYIwKOd
Make us proud, Kepa ?
— Chelsea FC USA (@ChelseaFCinUSA) February 27, 2022
Mendy did everything a human can possibly do to keep his team in the game.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) February 27, 2022
It’s in Kepa’s hands now…
Come on Kepa ? pic.twitter.com/0b94GAMm0M
— CFC-Blues ⭐️⭐️ (@CFCBlues_com) February 27, 2022
Kepa getting ready to come on for penalties, despite Mendy producing one of the best goalkeeping performances in recent memory at Wembley. Seems a bold call, despite Kepa's penalty record
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) February 27, 2022
Wait...is that...is that Kepa's music? #CarabaoCupFinal
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) February 27, 2022
Subbing on Kepa for penalties is such a galaxy brain substitution by Tuchel, I love it.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) February 27, 2022
Every shot of Kepa is the Jaws music getting progressively louder
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) February 27, 2022
? Feb 2019: Kepa refuses to be substituted off ahead of a penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup Final.
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 27, 2022
? Feb 2022: Kepa subbed on ahead of a penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/F1ogSBj75K
James Milner scored. Marcos Alonso scored. Fabinho scored a Panenka, making Kepa – who had attempted to psych him out - look very silly.
Lukaku scored. Van Dijk scored. Havertz scored – and it wasn't ruled out for offside!
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored. Reece James scored. Salah scored, potentially banishing his AFCON ghosts in the process. Jorginho netted too, setting up sudden death.
Even with the pressure on the successful spot kicks just kept on coming with each of Liverpool and Chelsea's players going on to score. Well, almost everyone converted. Kepa, brought on to win Chelsea the game ended up sending the trophy to Merseyside, blazing his effort miles over the bar.
It was a fittingly bonkers end to a bonkers game. We're off to catch our breath now...
Seeing Kepa blast that penalty into roz Z pic.twitter.com/gFiKAQhWG5
— Jude Summerfield (@judesummerfield) February 27, 2022
First player ever to miss a penalty from that camera angle, history has been made here
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) February 27, 2022
Chelsea have now lost four consecutive domestic cup finals.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 27, 2022
Not the best substitution ever made.
— Miles Jacobson ? (@milesSI) February 27, 2022
Mendy would’ve slotted his as well
— Tom Worville (@Worville) February 27, 2022
They subbed him on and he conceded 11 penalties and then missed the vital kick ??♂️?
— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) February 27, 2022
The three southern lads in this pub have started singing YNWA and nobody else is joining in pic.twitter.com/e881Lt6BgH
— Jon Birchall (@jonbir90) February 27, 2022
They should’ve kept Mendy on
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) February 27, 2022