Chelsea lacking again up front and Trent Alexander-Arnold proving he CAN defend – how the FA Cup final was won and lost
LIVERPOOL kept alive their hopes of the quadruple while Chelsea lost a third successive FA Cup final.
Here, SunSport looks at where the game was won and lost.
THE UNLIKELY PENALTY HERO
Kostas Tsimikas had been forced to wait in the wings in his 21 months at the club due to the outstanding form of left-back Andy Robertson.
The Greek was a surprise replacement for Robertson in the second period of extra-time and it was an inspired decision by Jurgen Klopp to let him take Liverpool’s seventh penalty.
His spot-kick was outstanding and although he is not good enough to be a first-team regular, here was his moment of fame.
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ALISSON DELIVERS AGAIN
Keeper Alisson has delivered so many key moments for Liverpool.
And do not forget it was his headed winner against West Brom near the end of last season that kept his team in the Champions League hunt.
Arguably, the Brazilian should have got the official man-of-the-match award.
He made big saves from Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic during the 90 minutes before that save from Mason Mount in the shoot-out.
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CHELSEA LACKING UP FRONT
Despite Alisson’s big moments, Chelsea should have created more chances.
They were unable to make Liverpool pay for their many wasted opportunities.
Romelu Lukaku laboured up front and wasted his one really decent opening.
His 85th-minute replacement, Hakim Ziyech, made little impression but one of the weirdest cameos in a final was by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was used as a false nine for 14 minutes in extra-time before being replaced.
ALEXANDER-ARNOLD CAN DEFEND
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is panned for some of his defending — and rightly so.
He plays a massive part with his assists and brilliant passing but at Wembley he starred with vital interceptions and denied Alonso and Pulisic.
England rival Reece James was Chelsea’s best player with outstanding tackling.