Joe Gomez has praised Liverpool’s character and winning mentality after they defeated Chelsea on penalties to secure their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The Reds progressed with a 6-5 shootout victory at Anfield after the fourth-round tie finished 1-1 following 90 minutes. Liverpool will now host AFC Bournemouth in the last eight as they continue their pursuit of another Carabao Cup triumph.
Gomez played a decisive role in Wednesday night’s dramatic conclusion, converting Liverpool’s sixth penalty before watching Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana miss his effort to seal the victory for the home side.
Speaking to ITV after the final whistle, the Liverpool defender expressed his satisfaction with the team’s resilience and reiterated their ambition to win the competition again.
On scoring from the spot, Gomez said: “We know it goes to pens straight after the game. So when it got later in the game, we knew it could. The boys fought hard. Obviously great opposition, we’ve had tough draws, but we want to go and win it again and we know we can.”
The pressure intensified as the shootout progressed, with both sides desperate to avoid elimination. Gomez admitted that the tension was unavoidable but said he trusted his ability to deliver when his moment arrived.
“Everyone’s on edge. We want to win and we know we’ve got the quality. Naturally for me, it’s a moment I’m obviously thinking about and anticipating. It was nice that it went in.”
For Gomez, representing Liverpool carries enormous responsibility, particularly in high-stakes fixtures where every contribution matters. The defender said the players were determined to honour the club’s shirt with their performance against Chelsea.
“It means everything to play for this club and we know every game, especially here, is massive for us and we want to do our best to represent the shirt. I think we did that tonight.”
Gomez also reserved praise for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who made an important contribution to Liverpool’s efforts on the night. He highlighted the challenge faced by players who do not feature regularly but are still expected to perform when called upon.
“Obviously Giorgi is a great ‘keeper. We know in the cup sometimes players aren’t always regularly playing, so for him to come in and do as well as he did is big props to him.”
The victory comes as Liverpool look to establish themselves under a new management team. Gomez believes the team’s determination to keep fighting until the final whistle reflects the standards associated with the club.
“Obviously it’s a new management team and we want to show that fight, show that grit. It’s mentality and I think that’s what we’re known for and we’re always trying to uphold that standard, and I think we did that tonight. It was important that the lads kept on fighting, kept going until the end and we did that.”
With Chelsea now behind them, Liverpool can turn their attention to Bournemouth and the next stage of the competition. Gomez’s comments underline the squad’s determination to defend their reputation for resilience while keeping their Carabao Cup ambitions alive.
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