Liverpool and Manchester City secured dramatic Carabao Cup wins on penalties against Chelsea and Brighton to book their places in the quarter-finals

Liverpool and Manchester City booked their places in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, after surviving tense penalty shootouts against Chelsea and Brighton in their respective fourth-round ties.

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Liverpool defeated Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Anfield, while Manchester City overcame Brighton 4-3 from the spot following an entertaining 2-2 stalemate at the Etihad Stadium.

The results kept both sides in contention for the trophy, with Manchester City continuing their defence of the competition they won last season.

At Anfield, Chelsea took the lead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers converted a penalty. Liverpool responded almost immediately, with Cody Gakpo also scoring from the spot three minutes later to restore parity.

Neither side managed to find a decisive goal during the second half, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout that tested the composure of both teams.

The shootout remained finely balanced as the players converted their attempts, with Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili eventually making a crucial save from Chelsea debutant Emmanuel Emegha.

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch subsequently missed for the hosts, keeping Chelsea in contention, but Joe Gomez converted his kick to put Liverpool in a strong position.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana then sent his effort over the crossbar, handing Liverpool a dramatic 6-5 victory and securing the Reds’ passage into the last eight.

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City had to recover twice against Brighton before claiming their place in the quarter-finals.

Brighton took the lead in the 30th minute through Malick Yalcouyé, whose goal put the visitors in control of the encounter.

City responded 10 minutes later when Mateo Kovacic struck from outside the penalty area to level the score and restore momentum for the hosts.

Brighton regained the advantage shortly after the restart. Georginio Rutter finished Jaouen Hadjam’s cross in the 47th minute to make it 2-1 and leave City facing another challenge.

The holders continued to press for an equaliser and found one in the 72nd minute through Vitor Reis, who scored his first goal for the club by turning in Rayan Cherki’s free-kick.

With neither team able to find a winner before the final whistle, the tie was decided by penalties.

Kovacic missed City’s opening opportunity when Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele saved his effort, putting pressure on the hosts.

However, Manchester City goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli produced important saves from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to keep his side in the contest.

Cherki converted City’s fifth penalty before Rulli’s decisive intervention helped secure a 4-3 shootout victory for the holders.

The two results underlined the fine margins involved in knockout football, where goalkeeping interventions and composure from the penalty spot can determine a team’s progress.

Liverpool will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals after overcoming a difficult challenge from Chelsea, while Manchester City remain on course to defend their Carabao Cup crown.

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Both victories came after 90 minutes of closely contested football, highlighting the resilience required to advance in a competition where one mistake can bring a team’s campaign to an abrupt end.