Alonso speaks after League Cup exit: "Our main focus is the Premier League"

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso stressed that the Premier League is their main target after his side were knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool.

At Anfield, normal time ended 1-1, with Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo trading penalties in the first half. Liverpool went through after winning the shoot-out 6-5 when Wesley Fofana failed to convert the decisive kick. Chelsea also had the chance to go ahead in the shoot-out, but Emmanuel Emegha, making his debut for the club, was unable to take it.

Although Alonso, a former Liverpool star, missed out on the season's first chance of silverware, he quickly turned his attention to Saturday's Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

Reflecting on the match, Alonso said: "When it comes down to penalties, the side that goes out always feels it is cruel. It was a very close contest for both teams. Anything can happen in penalties. My players showed that they are at a level to compete at Anfield. We conceded the penalty and it was level again. That's football, it's part of our job. We put in a good performance, and that is what you have to do when you come to stadiums like this. Now our main focus is the Premier League. We don't have much time to recover because we play early on Saturday, so we need to change our mindset as quickly as possible."

With Joao Pedro injured and Cole Palmer suspended, Rogers took on greater responsibility in Chelsea's attack and was his side's most influential player, adding 6 shots, 9 touches in the opposition box and 3 successful dribbles out of 5 to his goal.

Speaking after the match, the young player said: "That's probably the worst way to lose a game. It was an even game and at times we were the better side. I also had half-chances that I would have wanted to take. It was a game that could have gone either way, and you have to accept the result."