Why Thiago Silva lost it with N'Golo Kante as Chelsea enjoy benefit of Real Madrid transfer call

There were several big selection decisions Thomas Tuchel made for the Carabao Cup final. And almost all of them paid off for the Chelsea head coach.

Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was brought into the starting XI for the first time in this season's competition. Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced onto the substitutes' bench, although the Spaniard did come on in for the penalty shootout only to then miss the device spot-kick.

The game wouldn't have been settled from 12 yards without Mendy, though. There was his outstanding double save in the opening 45 minutes to deny Naby Keita and Sadio Mane, two fine stops to keep Luis Diaz at bay in the second period, and an excellent save to keep out a Virgil van Dijk header.

Mendy underlined his status as Chelsea's number one goalkeeper. He certainly didn't deserve to be on the losing side at Wembley. Nor did the majority of those in blue.

Kai Havertz, for example, was hugely impressive as the Blues' number nine. The 22-year-old led the Chelsea attack ahead of club-record signing Romelu Lukaku and his movement, skill and tenaciousness gave Liverpool's centre-back duo of Joel Matip and van Dijk problems throughout.

Havertz was unfortunate to have two goals chalked off due to offside calls – as was Lukaku, who was introduced in the second period. But the reason Chelsea were beaten at Wembley wasn't these decisions, nor was it Kepa's skied penalty in truth, it was the Blues' wastefulness in front of goal.

Christian Pulisic missed a good chance for Chelsea inside six minutes but it was Mason Mount's two clear-cut opportunities that were spurned that truly hurt. The England international will know he could've won the game at Wembley.

"I saw a brilliant match of football over 120 minutes