Liverpool marked the beginning of the end of manager Jürgen Klopp’s tenure with a thrilling victory, clinching the Carabao Cup on Sunday by edging past Chelsea 1-0 in a nail-biting final at Wembley Stadium.
Every cup final carries its own tension, but with Liverpool aiming to bid farewell to Klopp with four trophies in his final season and facing significant injuries to key players, the stakes for the club were exceptionally high.
The intensity soared as both teams missed several chances, with each side having a goal disallowed, setting the stage for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s remarkable saves that forced the game into extra time.
Captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock with a crucial goal just three minutes before the end of extra time, sealing Liverpool’s victory. Van Dijk acknowledged the contributions of the young players on the team, expressing his pride and admiration for their performance.
“It’s incredible, I’m so proud of the team,” Van Dijk remarked to Sky Sports. “All the young boys on the pitch on extra-time… first trophy as a Liverpool captain.”
The match commenced cautiously, with both sides feeling the weight of the cup final pressure. Despite Liverpool’s early initiative, Chelsea threatened first, only to be denied by Kelleher’s heroic saves, which totaled nine throughout the game.
A setback came for Liverpool when Ryan Gravenberch sustained an injury, prompting Klopp to adjust his team’s formation amidst his visible frustration with the referee’s decisions.
The game witnessed high drama, including a disallowed goal by Raheem Sterling for Chelsea and another by Van Dijk for Liverpool, both overturned by VAR rulings.
As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, the teams amassed a flurry of shots on goal, yet failed to break the deadlock. Klopp introduced young substitutes, injecting fresh energy into the game with teenagers Jayden Danns, James McConnell, and Bobby Clark making notable appearances.
Van Dijk’s decisive header from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner ultimately secured Liverpool’s victory, prompting jubilant scenes on and off the field.
The win marked the first milestone in Liverpool’s ambitious quest for four trophies this season, with the team leading the English Premier League, set to face Sparta Prague in the Europa League last-16, and gearing up for a fifth-round FA Cup tie against Southampton.
