Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup final result and reaction after Virgil van Dijk nets extra-time winner
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET): Virgil van Dijk’s headed effort was the difference and wins the league cup for Jurgen Klopp’s men
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk headed the winner deep into extra time as Jurgen Klopp’s massively-depleted side beat Chelsea 1-0 to claim a record-extending 10th Carabao Cup. The Dutch defender, who controversially had another header ruled out at the same end in the second half after VAR intervention, rose above Mykhailo Mudryk to nod in Kostas Tsimikas’ corner in the 118th minute.
It was no more than the Netherlands international, lifting his first trophy as Liverpool captain, deserved after a monumental performance in defence in a win which seemed against the odds for long periods. Klopp became the third Liverpool manager to win the trophy more than once as his long goodbye to his departure at the end of the season began with the first of a potential four pieces of silverware. But for opposite number Mauricio Pochettinohis long wait for an English domestic trophy continues.
Relive the action from Wembley:
Jamie Redknapp on magic of Jurgen Klopp
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp said: “What a man. How do you follow that? How do you follow Jurgen Klopp?
“Trying to come to Liverpool after what he’s done and what he’s created, it’s virtually impossible. It is. The guy is just such a leader of men.
“He’s led a city, every Liverpool fan around the world has looked up to that man and what he’s achieved.
“He’s turned around a club that was struggling at the time and made everyone believe in what he was trying to achieve, and even those young players he has given opportunities to, the belief he has got in all of them.
“He’s just an incredible human being.”
Liverpool celebrate winning the Carabao Cup
Liverpool celebrate winning the Carabao Cup
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino:
“We created four, five, six big chances and we didn’t score. In a game like today and in a final to score first, it is a big advantage. We didn’t score and that is a bit of a problem. We conceded in the last minute and it is difficult to react.
“They [the players] are professional, they need to feel the pain. We played for a trophy we didn’t get. They need to feel the pain like us.
“The players feel the disappointment because we were so close to winning the game after 90 minutes.
“We need to take positive things, need to push, use this type of game to learn and be better. I think we really competed if you don’t score with chances we had it’s difficult to win the final.
“That is why, we lost final we need to be clinical in front of goal and we congratulate Liverpool and keep going. The way you lose is so painful but now we need to keep going keep moving.
“They scored and we didn’t score.”
Jurgen Klopp giving his reaction to Liverpool’s win
“What happened here was absolutely insane, these things are not possible. The team, a squad, an academy full of character. I am so proud I could be part of that tonight.
“The craziest thing is we deserved it. We had lucky moments, they had lucky moments. The boys showed up, it was really cool.
“I am sure we brought on all the kids! We needed fresh legs, they were fresh but very young, but they did the job.
“The boys have trained for a long time with us, they know exactly what we have to do. They are a pain, to be honest, that is what you have to be in these moments. But not only them, how about Harvey Elliot for 120 miutes, [Wataru] Endo walked to the ceremoney with the stiffest legs.
“We didn’t mention Conor [Bradley], he was so good. Caoimhin [Kelleher], he was so good. We have the best keeper in the world and the best number two.”
Jurgen Klopp’s youngsters leave Chelsea with a billion regrets after late Carabao Cup victory
By the end, it was the sort of side only seen on the pitch together in pre-season friendlies. There was Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Bobby Clark, who have two first-team starts for Liverpool between them. And they were taking on Chelsea, flush from spending £1bn, in the most expensive makeover in footballing history.
But money couldn’t buy Chelsea a trophy or the spirit, ambition and resolve of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side. The first silverware of the season, the first of a possible quadruple, went to the kindergarten Klopps, to the kids who left Chelsea with a billion regrets. This was another example of Klopp’s ability to script the improbable. The last chapters in his story may be as astonishing as some of the earlier ones.
Klopp’s youngsters leave Chelsea with a billion regrets after League Cup victory
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp’s youngsters snatched a late victory against the Blues’ expensive stars
Conor Gallagher’s three Carabao Cup final misses sum up Chelsea’s crisis
And so the long walk began.
The head dropped, the shoulders sank and Conor Gallagher ran his hand across his face for a final time, the pain of his three misses in the Carabao Cup final written deep in his eyes. Chelsea’s wait for domestic silverware and their Wembley curse continues, with four straight defeats in finals, three of them now to Liverpool.
Yet Gallagher, on a different day, would have been a worthy match-winner for this Chelsea, a symbol of a new era. He came off exhausted, largely very good in an otherwise sloppy and disjointed performance from his team, but three lung-bursting runs into the Liverpool penalty box brought three opportunities.
They were wasted and Chelsea, by the end, could have no complaints after they were denied by Virgil van Dijk’s winner.
Conor Gallagher’s three Carabao Cup final misses sum up Chelsea’s crisis
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET): The midfielder had a hat-trick of opportunities to win the Carabao Cup and this defeat could haunt him
Liverpool finally find a way to end improbable cup final affliction in unexpected fashion
In the end at Wembley, penalties were not quite required, but otherwise, fans watching at home and from afar could be forgiven for wondering if it was a two-year old replay unfolding before their eyes.
Caoimhin Kelleher heroics against Chelsea? Check. VAR-led disallowed goals? Check. Woodwork hit by both teams? Check again. And above all else, the unusual sight of Liverpool failing to match their usual exploits in the final third, both in terms of creating chance and - more importantly - taking them.
For a club which habitually nets over 100 a season - they were at the century mark already for 2023/24 heading into this game - cup finals seem to render them improbably impotent in the penalty box. Even last year, when cup finals were a distant dream, the Reds scored 103 in all competitions.
Liverpool finally find a way to end improbable cup final affliction
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET): Virgil van Dijk’s header ended 447 minutes without scoring for the Reds in cup finals
Liverpool’s matchwinner Virgil van Dijk:
“All the young boys on the pitch, in extra time. It’s incredible, I’m so proud of the team.
“Intense game for both sides, they had chances we had chances. Amazing. First trophy as Liverpool captain, it’s all for the fans so let’s enjoy it.
“It’s emotion, it’s everything I am so proud of the boys. All of the young boys playing their part in what we achieved today it’s incredible and on to more.”
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