After Chelsea held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield last night, plenty asked the question: do away goals count in this competition?
They do, but not in the same way as they do in the Champions League, for example. It's slightly convoluted as away goals do count, but only after extra-time has been played.
Therefore if the game next week ends 0-0, leaving the aggregate score at 1-1, Chelsea and Liverpool will play an extra 30 minutes. If the score remains 0-0 after that extra period then the Blues go through on away goals.
A winning goal in extra time will, of course, send that team through, while if Liverpool and Chelsea both score another, the game will go to penalties.
If the two teams end up in another 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, then the away goals cancel each other out - the aggregate score will be 2-2, extra-time will be played and the game will then go to penalties, if neither team has managed to find a winner.
In short, the only way it can go to penalties next week is if the two teams are 2-2 on aggregate after 120 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
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RESULTS
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 - extra-time, Chelsea go through if neither team scores
Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 - extra-time, then penalties if neither team scores
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 2 - extra-time, Liverpool go through on away goals (if neither team scores a winner in the extra 30mins)
Any higher scoring result - as above
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