Chelsea beat Liverpool after extra-time to reach final

Branislav Ivanovic's extra-time header was enough to decide a fiery and incident-filled League Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Both sides threw themselves into this pulsating second leg, which was played at a frenetic pace from the off.

While Chelsea saw plenty of the ball, it was Liverpool who carved out the best chances of the half, with Raheem Sterling racing clear of two Chelsea defenders at speed, but failing to pick out Steven Gerrard, who was screaming for the pass.

Diego Costa, who was lucky the referee missed an early stamp on Emre Can in front of the technical area, later went down in the box under a challenge from Martin Skrtel - but contact was minimal at best and the referee rightly ignored the calls for a spot kick.

The best chance of the half fell to Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno, whose run was picked out superbly by Steven Gerrard's defence-splitting through ball, but Moreno took a first touch, which allowed Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to set himself and make the save.

Philippe Coutinho, a livewire all night, then drove through the heart of the Chelsea defence and forced Courtois into another smart save, this time low down with his left foot.

Chelsea improved after the break and dominated for long periods and could have gone ahead on more than one occasion, but it took them a few minutes after the end of regulation time to do so from a set-piece.

Ivanovic headed home from Willian’s wide free-kick in the only goal of the game.

10' STAMP! Costa lucky not to be sent off for a stamp on the leg of Emre Can.

16' CHANCE! Oh, what a chance for Liverpool! Sterling motors clear on the counter-attack with two Chelsea defenders in pursuit. He has Gerrard in support and just needs to play him in but fails to make the pass and the chance is gone. HUGE chance.

30' BIG SAVE! Courtois called into action again as Coutinho drives through the heart of the Chelsea defence and drills a shot low towards the bottom corner, but the Belgian keeper makes a vital stop with his foot.

43' CHANCE! Coutinho shrugs off a challenge from Fabregas and cuts into the box from the left and his shot deflects off Zouma and into the side netting of Courtois's goal.

59' CHANCE! Great skill and trickery by Hazard to get away from three Liverpool challenges on the edge of the box before letting fly from 20 yards - but it flashes just wide. Close.

65' HUGE SAVE! Mignolet makes a fantastic diving save at the feet of Costa, who seized upon a loose interception from Gerrard - but Mignolet smothered Costa as he pulled the trigger. Great stop.

66' LUCKY BOY! Henderson very lucky not to be sent off for handball. Already on a yellow, surely he had to go.

94’ GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool! The Blues go 2-1 up on aggregate as Ivanovic powers home a Willian free-kick from the wing. Balotelli looked like he was marking the defender, but then just… stopped. Uh-oh.

Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea - Just like in the first leg, the Belgian goalkeeper's saves were crucial as Chelsea marched on to Wembley days after a humiliating FA Cup exit.

CHELSEA: Courtois 8, Ivanovic 8, Zouma 7, Terry 7, Luis 7, Matic 7, Fabregas 7, Willian 7, Oscar 7, Hazard 8, Costa 7. Subs: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ake, Ramires, Remy, Drogba

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 7, Can 6, Skrtel 7, Sakho 7, Lucas 7, Henderson 7, Moreno 7, Markovic 6, Gerrard 8, Coutinho 8, Sterling 6. Subs: Ward, Johnson, Lovren, Lambert, Lallana, Allen, Balotelli.