Reaction'Very, very special' - Liverpool players react to FA Cup win
Liverpool's players revelled in the delight of lifting the Emirates FA Cup after Saturday's win over Chelsea.
FA Cup final: Extended highlights
Just as had been the case in the Carabao Cup final, penalties were needed to separate the Reds and Blues after an absorbing, yet goalless, 120 minutes at Wembley.
Jürgen Klopp's team prevailed again, this time edging the shootout 6-5 after Alisson Becker had saved from Mason Mount and Kostas Tsimikas stepped up to slot home the decisive spot-kick.
Read our round-up of the players' post-match reaction below...
Jordan Henderson
Speaking to ITV
On a tough encounter...
We had chances, we just couldn't put one away. We kept going. I think in extra-time both teams tired a little bit but we give it everything. Then it went to penalties again and thankfully we've got the rub of the green again.
On Alisson's vital performance...
Not enough good words! He's unbelievable. Incredible. In games - everything; build-up, shot-stopping, his all-round personality in the dressing room. As he is as a man - incredible.
On Tsimikas' winning penalty...
Kostas has been good at pens. We've been practising them and he was good, so I was full of confidence when he stepped up.
On what the FA Cup means to Liverpool...
Yeah, big for us. We wanted to challenge on all fronts this season, which I think we have done. League Cup and now the FA Cup - it's pretty special really. We've got some more big games coming up, we've got to recover so quickly and play Tuesday. We'll give everything in the Premier League and then obviously the Champions League at the end.
Kostas Tsimikas
Speaking to the BBC
On what was going through his mind as he stepped up to the penalty…
I think the hard work. We gave absolutely everything. Big congratulations to the boys who played the most. We have to celebrate hard, but tomorrow is the next day and we still have a lot to do. We have the games in the Premier League and we have the big [Champions League] final.
On the special feeling of scoring the winning penalty…
It's very, very special for me. The manager asked me which number I want. I said number seven. He said, 'Why so far?' I said, 'I want number seven.' Number seven gave me the opportunity to win the game, I chose the right side and I scored - very, very happy for that.
On the celebrations at Wembley…
Of course we wanted it so much. Our goal was set from the start of the season. But still we have two more goals to achieve. We'll go for it and hopefully at the end everybody will be happy.
On being the 'Greek Scouser'…
Yes, I'm not a Greek Scouser, I'm the Scouser Greek! I'm joking! We have to celebrate now but still we have in our minds the big final we have and the two upcoming [Premier League] games. We have to be 100 per cent focused if we want to achieve our goals.
Alisson Becker
Speaking to the BBC
On the performance…
We did such a good performance. It's a shame that we didn't score during the normal time but it was a proper fight and in extra-time anything could happen. We kept the clean sheet and brought it to the penalties and then after the boys, they were unbelievable with scoring the goals and then I just needed to save the last one. I'm so happy.
On his penalty save…
Yeah, it was good! I think all the goalkeeper coaches, they helped me with the decisions. In the end I am there, I need to do myself the decision, they are all fantastic players [and] Chelsea did really well but we deserved the win. I only did that save because we deserved to win this.
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