Liverpool received the League Cup in dramatic style as Virgil van Dijk’s header late in extra-time sealed a 1-Zero win in opposition to Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit aspect completed a gruelling conflict with a number of uncooked kids on the pitch, but it surely was their skilled captain who clinched the membership’s 10th League Cup triumph. Van Dijk earlier had a objective controversially disallowed by VAR, however the Dutch defender pounced to nod residence with simply two minutes left.
It was Liverpool’s first trophy following Klopp’s bombshell announcement that he’ll step down on the finish of this season.
The German will hope Liverpool’s first silverware because the 2022 FA Cup would be the springboard for an unimaginable farewell tour.
Quadruple-chasing Liverpool sit prime of the Premier League, face Southampton within the FA Cup fifth spherical on Wednesday and tackle Sparta Prague within the Europa League final 16.
It was one other bitter Wembley expertise for Chelsea, who misplaced the 2022 League Cup and FA Cup finals in opposition to Liverpool.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has requested Chelsea followers to not choose him on “winning titles” within the midst of a troubled first season in cost.
But Chelsea stay with out home silverware because the 2018 FA Cup and had solely themselves in charge after lacking a number of possibilities in regular time.
Ravaged by accidents to 11 gamers, Liverpool’s record of star absentees included Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.
That meant begins for 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott, whereas six of Klopp’s substitutes had been 21 or youthful.
– Goals dominated out –
Despite their youthful line-up, Liverpool settled rapidly as Luis Diaz led the cost.
Taking benefit of Chelsea’s hesitant defending, Diaz superior into the realm for a fierce strike that pressured a superb save from Djordje Petrovic.
Against the run of play, Chelsea ought to have taken the lead with their first incisive raid.
Conor Gallagher’s cross deflected to Cole Palmer simply six yards out, however his strike produced an excellent save from Caoimhin Kelleher.
Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool’s ever-growing harm record when he was stretchered off after the midfielder’s leg twisted awkwardly in a problem with Moises Caicedo.
Raheem Sterling thought he had given Chelsea the lead with a close-range end from Nicolas Jackson’s cross, however the objective was disallowed for a good offside in opposition to the Senegal striker earlier than his help.
Responding to Chelsea’s enchancment, Liverpool had been inches away from taking the lead by means of Cody Gakpo, whose glancing header from Andrew Robertson’s cross hit the far put up.
Liverpool stored coming and Bradley’s goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Levi Colwill, who threw himself into the fray to repel the close-range effort.
Liverpool seemed to have damaged the impasse on the hour when Van Dijk climbed above Ben Chilwell to go in Robertson’s free-kick.
But VAR intervened, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to disallow the objective for offside in opposition to Wataru Endo, who blocked Colwill from marking the Dutch defender.
Axel Disasi ought to have rubbed salt into Liverpool’s wounds however the Chelsea defender made an entire hash of a close-range probability.
Chelsea went shut once more as Gallagher met Palmer’s cross with a flick that cannoned off the far put up.
Gallagher wasted a golden alternative to win it within the ultimate minutes, receiving Palmer’s go in acres of house however taking a heavy contact that allowed Kelleher to avoid wasting.
In a pulsating finale, Kelleher made two extra saves from Palmer and Christopher Nkunku in fast succession to power extra-time.
Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jarell Quansah and Jayden Danns had been all on by now, but when Liverpool’s kids lacked Chelsea’s expertise, they had been by no means overawed.
Danns nearly guided his header over Petrovic and Elliott was inches away when he volleyed in opposition to the put up.
Liverpool wouldn’t be denied and with penalties simply two minutes away, Van Dijk met Kostas Tsimikas’s nook with a header that flashed previous Petrovic as Klopp raised his arms with a smile that bordered on disbelief.
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