Valentin Barco’s stuttering penalty miss cost Chelsea a Carabao Cup shootout defeat against Liverpool on October 29, 2026, reigniting a global debate over the stop-start run-up technique. The high-profile miss follows similar failures by Bruno Guimaraes and Harry Kane, prompting sharp division among pundits over whether the style is clever or simply naive.
The debate intensified following the Carabao Cup last-16 matches, where Valentin Barco hit the post with Chelsea’s fourth penalty in a shootout against Liverpool. According to reporting from the BBC, Xabi Alonso’s side would have advanced to the EFL Cup quarter-finals had the midfielder scored, but the team ultimately crashed out after defender Wesley Fofana missed in sudden death at Anfield.
Barco’s approach mirrors a growing trend across professional football. Players utilize the stuttered run-up to trick goalkeepers into revealing which way they intend to dive. However, the technique carries heavy risks if the taker fails to hit the target or if the goalkeeper stands firm.
Global Stage Failures and FIFA Regulations
The stop-start technique proved divisive during the summer’s World Cup, where players attempted 26 stutter penalties but missed 11 of them. Under FIFA rules, the maneuver remains legal as long as the kicker does not stop or feint directly before striking the ball.
Arsenal and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes also suffered a missed spot-kick using the style as the Gunners crashed out against League Two side Fleetwood Town, repeating a miss from the summer tournament. Harry Kane likewise tried the method during the World Cup, leading to a save from Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in England’s 4-2 win. Kane ultimately secured a retake because Livakovic stepped off his line early, scoring his second attempt with a conventional approach.
Despite the high failure rate, several prominent stars rely on the style. Brazil icon Pele famously used the stutter, while Cristiano Ronaldo employs it with mixed results. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez also regularly incorporate the stop-start run-up into their penalty routines.
Pundits Clash Over Tactics at Anfield
Football analysts remain sharply divided over whether the technique belongs in the modern game. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy voiced strong opposition following Arsenal’s defeat.
I wouldn’t allow it if I was a manager. It is ridiculous, self-indulgence, a player trying to be the centre of attention. When they do the stutter they think the keeper might go, but they aren’t going that early, they aren’t being tricked any more. It is naive.
Danny Murphy, former Liverpool midfielder
Conversely, former full-back Glen Johnson defended the approach, arguing that Barco was unlucky rather than tactically flawed.
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta also weighed in on Barco’s choice, noting to ITV that every player relies on the style where they feel most confident.
The contrasting perspectives were underscored when Liverpool defender Joe Gomez — who had never scored a senior goal in 319 professional appearances — secured victory for his side by blasting the winning penalty into the top corner using a straightforward, traditional run-up.
