Liverpool keep quadruple dream alive

LIVERPOOL won the FA Cup for the first time since 2006 after a penalty shoot-out against Chelsea as the quadruple chasers kept their history bid alive yesterday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side won 6-5 on penalties at Wembley as Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas was the unlikely hero with the decisive kick after Alisson Becker kept out Mason Mount’s effort.

A hard-fought final had finished a 0-0 draw after extra-time, setting the stage for a shoot-out that featured misses by Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Sadio Mane, whose shot was saved by Edouard Mendy when he had a chance to clinch the trophy.

For the second time this season, Liverpool emerged victorious against Chelsea on penalties, having already beaten them 11-10 following another 0-0 draw in the League Cup final in February.

Liverpool’s triumph keeps them in the hunt to become the first English team to win all four major trophies in a season.

With two prizes already secured, the Reds will hope for a slip from Premier

League leaders Manchester City, who are three points clear of them in the title race with two games left for both teams.

Even if Liverpool don’t win a second English title in three seasons, they could still cap an astonishing campaign by winning the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris on May 28.

Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to injuries that could rule them out of their last two Premier League games next week and will spark fears about their ability to recover in time for the Champions League final.

Liverpool have won both domestic cups in the same season for the first time since 2000-01, with Klopp getting his hands on the famous old trophy for the first time.

For Chelsea, it was a painful third successive FA Cup final defeat after previous losses to Leicester and Arsenal.

Luis Diaz should have put Liverpool ahead after accelerating onto a sublime pass from Trent Alexander-arnold. Diaz’s shot was saved by Mendy, and Trevoh Chalobah hacked the loose ball clear.

With Thomas Tuchel gesticulating on the touchline, Chelsea dug in and Mount led their first serious raid, crossing for Christian Pulisic to clip his shot just wide.

Tuchel had sent on his penalty-saving specialist keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of the League Cup final shootout in a move that backfired.

Tuchel stuck with Mendy this time, but the result was still the same.