Joe Gomez waited 12 seasons and 278 appearances to score his first goal for Liverpool, and it could hardly have come at a bigger moment as his penalty sent the Reds past Chelsea in a dramatic Carabao Cup shootout at Anfield on Wednesday night.

The fourth-round tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with both goals coming from the penalty spot before half-time. Liverpool won the shootout 6-5 after Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana sent the decisive kick high over the crossbar in front of the Kop.

Two penalties in three minutes

Chelsea went ahead around the 40-minute mark when Ryan Gravenberch brought down Moisés Caicedo inside the box and Morgan Rogers converted into the corner.

Liverpool were level within minutes. Fofana handled a Kostas Tsimikas corner and Cody Gakpo drilled the resulting penalty low past Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders.

Chelsea suffered a further blow when defender Maxence Lacroix appeared to pull a hamstring and was replaced by Levi Colwill. Neither side could find a winner in a tense second half watched by more than 60,000 fans.

A shootout of twists

The shootout swung back and forth. Valentín Barco hit the post for Chelsea and Penders saved from Gravenberch, while Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili kept out Emmanuel Emegha's effort. With the sides level at five each after seven kicks apiece, Gomez stepped up and scored, before Fofana, who had conceded the penalty earlier, fired over.

The result extends a remarkable record: Chelsea have now lost five consecutive penalty shootouts against Liverpool, according to Sky Sports.

What the managers said

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, who handed starts to several young players, was pleased with what he saw. "They showed us they had a very good level," he said.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso accepted the outcome. "That's it with penalties, someone will go home feeling it was harsh to go out. But we saw a proper cup game, intense and really close," he said, adding that the League Cup was the least important competition for his side.

The win is Liverpool's fifth in a row in all competitions.

Quarter-final line-up

Liverpool will host Bournemouth in the last eight, with the ties scheduled for the week beginning December 14. Manchester City will face Bradford, Crystal Palace meet Sunderland, and Fleetwood will play the winners of Everton against Newcastle.

For the many Liverpool and Chelsea supporters in Kenya, the late-night drama offered a fitting midweek treat as the English season heads into a busy November.

Photos: Liverpool FC; Chelsea FC/Getty Images. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.