Liverpool and Manchester City Win on Penalties to Reach EFL Cup Quarter-Finals

Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday night to reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals. Holders Manchester City also went through on penalties, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 in a shootout after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Two penalties in three minutes at Anfield

Chelsea went ahead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers scored from the penalty spot. The lead lasted three minutes. Cody Gakpo equalised from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, and the tie stayed level at 1-1 through the rest of the match.

With no further scoring, the tie went straight to a shootout. Joe Gomez scored Liverpool's decisive penalty. Wesley Fofana then missed Chelsea's final kick, putting the ball over the bar, and Liverpool won the shootout 6-5 to take their place in the last eight.

City survive after Brighton lead twice

Brighton led twice at the Etihad. Malick Yalcouye put the visitors ahead in the 30th minute, and Mateo Kovacic equalised for City in the 40th minute. Georginio Rutter restored Brighton's lead in the 47th minute, two minutes into the second half, before Vitor Reis made it 2-2 in the 72nd minute.

The shootout turned on City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who saved penalties from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk. Kovacic missed for City, but Rulli's two saves were enough and City won the shootout 4-3.

City did it without Erling Haaland. The striker was rested and left out of the squad for the Brighton tie, one of five regulars given three days off after the defeat by Aston Villa, manager Enzo Maresca said.

Bournemouth, Sunderland and Palace also through

Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Amine Adli opened the scoring in the 7th minute, Lewis Cook added a second in the 51st minute and Alvaro Rodriguez scored the third in the 69th minute.

Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2 at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland led 3-0 inside 39 minutes, and Brentford's two goals were not enough to take the tie away from the home side.

Crystal Palace won 1-0 at Fulham at Craven Cottage. Eddie Nketiah scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute.

Quarter-final draw

The quarter-final draw was made after Wednesday's ties. Liverpool will host Bournemouth at Anfield, and Crystal Palace will host Sunderland. Manchester City will host Bradford City, and Fleetwood Town will host the winner of the last fourth-round tie between Everton and Newcastle United.

That tie is played on Thursday, October 29 at 7.45pm UK time. The quarter-finals are single-leg ties and will be played in the week commencing Monday, December 14, 2026.

Wednesday's results complete a fourth round in which Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal on penalties on Tuesday, a result The Orbit Post reported earlier this week.