Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (5-6 on pens): Qualifications from players like Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker shine in FA Cup final | football news

CHELSEA

Eduardo Mendy – 8

He had to be alert against heavy pressure from Liverpool from the start, making an excellent one-on-one save to deny Luis Diaz. From there he commanded his box superbly and made a couple of big saves by stepping out of line to sweep away danger. He was unable to avoid Chelsea’s penalty shootout loss despite saving Sadio Mane.

Trevoh Chalobah – 7

He endured a torrid opening to the game as Diaz repeatedly got behind him, but made an important goal-line clearance to deny the Colombian and recovered from his shaky start, improving as the game went on.

Thiago Silva – 8

Imperative at the heart of the Chelsea defence. He suffered an early scare when he went down with what appeared to be a thigh injury, but he shook it off to help keep Liverpool at bay, his coolness summed up in a nonchalant walk away from Sadio Mane in the second half. of regulation time.

Antonio Rudiger – 7

He had a less challenging night than Chalobah on the left of Chelsea’s back three, keeping Salah quiet before his retirement and dealing well with Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota after that.

Reece James – 8

Unable to make as much of an offensive impact as he would have liked in the first half as he had to prioritize helping Chalobah contain Diaz, but after that he started to come forward to good effect and defended superbly. He booked for a rash foul on Thiago, but otherwise an excellent performance overall. He converted his penalty in the penalty shootout.

George – 8

A calming influence in a frenetic game in Chelsea’s midfield and also made some important tackles, clearances and interceptions. He brilliantly converted a pressure penalty in the penalty shootout.

Matthew Kovacic – 7

He pushed straight into the team despite injuring his ankle in the win over Leeds. He wasn’t at his best, losing possession in his own half on a couple of occasions, but he fought bravely and showed glimpses of his quality before being replaced by N’Golo Kante.

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He charged forward at every opportunity and had two excellent chances to put Chelsea in front in normal time, shooting straight at Alisson when Pulisic put him on goal in the first half, then firing just wide from Mason Mount’s cross just after the break. He in general managed well defensively and scored his penalty.

Mason Assembly – 7

As industrious as ever in Chelsea’s three-man attack and never stopped running when the game went into extra time. However, he perhaps didn’t influence the game as much as he would have liked in the final third, and Alisson saved his penalty in the shootout.

Christian Pulisic – 6

Probably Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker in terms of the positions he got into, but he lacked the edge in key moments. He sent a Mount cut just wide in the first half and missed a number of other chances before being replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek in extra time.

Romelu Lukaku – 5

He led the line in the absence of Kai Havertz, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. He provided a useful aerial outlet at times, but struggled with the ball at his feet. He was a substitute in the final stages of regulation time after having made a single goal attempt, a shot that went over the top.

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N’Golo Kante – 6

Fit enough to come off the bench after a three-game absence. He showed his usual industriousness but lacked composure on a couple of occasions getting into promising positions.

Hakim Ziech – 7

He produced a couple of good deliveries after replacing Lukaku and kept his cool in the shootout to score from the spot despite a long delay as the stewards removed a flare.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 5

He entered halfway through extra time, but missed his penalty in the penalty shootout and his shot hit the outside of the post.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 6

Entered for Pulisic in extra time, only to be taken off by Ross Barkley before the penalty shootout.

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He sent out a penalty and did his job, shooting on goal in the penalty shootout.

LIVERPOOL

Alisson Becker – 9

He once again showed his ability in one-on-one situations when he raced out to deny Alonso in the first half and also made an excellent reflex save to deny Pulisic shortly after half-time. He excellent throughout the 120 minutes and one of Liverpool’s heroes in the penalty shootout thanks to his save from Mount.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8

An excellent performance in and out of possession. Some outstanding passes, including one to put Diaz on target early on and one to find Andrew Robertson wide open at the far post, but even more impressive defensively, producing a string of vital tackles and clearances in the Liverpool box. He scored his penalty in the penalty shootout.

Virgil van Dijk – 7

He had little trouble dealing with Romelu Lukaku, but had to be pulled at the end of regulation due to injury when Jurgen Klopp launched Joel Matip in his place. He later revealed that he had felt a twinge in his knee. Liverpool will hope that it is not serious.

Ibrahima Konate – 8

Favored Matip from the start, as it usually is in cup competitions. He helped chain up Lukaku and continued to impress after the Belgian left. He seemed to have lost a foot race with Kante when the Chelsea man stormed into goal in extra time, but he showed impressive speed to recover. He excelled even after Van Dijk left.

Andrew Robertson – 7

Back in the squad, as expected, having been rested against Aston Villa on Tuesday and should have scored twice, once when he reacted slowly finding an Alexander-Arnold cross at the far post, and again when he sent a center of James Milner. against the post from a similar position. Retired by shootout hero Kostas Tsimikas in extra time.

Thiago Alcantara – 8

Another magnificent performance at Wembley from the Spaniard, who shone in Liverpool’s semi-final victory over Manchester City and produced another influential performance against Chelsea. He showed his usual brilliance on the ball and coolly dispatched his penalty in the shootout.

Jordan Henderson – 7

Starting at the base of the midfield in the absence of the injured Fabinho. His leadership and experience helped Liverpool through difficult moments in the game and he completed 89 per cent of his 75 passes.

Naby Keita – 7

A typically laborious performance from the Guinean international. He used the ball well and pressed with his usual tenacity, but should have done better with a low effort that he sent too close to Mendy. He replaced James Milner with 15 minutes remaining in regulation time.

Luis Diaz – 9

Electrifying, just as it was in the Carabao Cup final in February. He created a number of chances in the early going and came close numerous times, firing a couple of shots inches from the post and earning a standing ovation from Liverpool fans when he was substituted for Roberto Firmino in extra time. A man of the match display.

Sadio Mane – 7

A rare game in which he did not record a single shot on goal in open play, but worked tirelessly throughout, causing Chelsea problems with his speed, movement and physicality. He missed his penalty in the shootout but it didn’t matter.

Mohammed Salah – 6

Forced out with what appeared to be a groin injury after just 33 minutes. The Egyptian had been relatively quiet up to that point, his only vision of goal coming with a looping header that went over the crossbar. Replaced by Diogo Jota and now in doubt for the crucial Liverpool match.

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Diogo Jota – 7

He missed a glorious chance to put Liverpool ahead shortly before half-time when he sent Robertson’s cross over the bar from just six yards out. However, he worked hard and converted a pressure penalty in clinical fashion in the penalty shootout.

James Milner – 7

He took a risk when he challenged James moments after replacing Keita. He maybe he was lucky to avoid a card on that occasion but he impressed at both ends of the pitch and scored his penalty.

Joel Matip – 7

Typically secured after replacing Van Dijk at the end of regulation time.

Roberto Firmino – 7

He received a rousing reception from Liverpool fans when he replaced Diaz in his first appearance for a month and scored his penalty.

Costas Tsimikas – 7

Liverpool’s unlikely hero, converting the winning penalty after replacing Robertson in extra time to spark Liverpool’s wild celebrations.