Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the League Cup final, thanks to a dramatic extra-time header from Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds were without several key players, including Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, and suffered an early injury setback when Ryan Gravenberch was forced off the field.
Despite these challenges, they managed to hold their own against a strong Chelsea side, with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher making several crucial saves to keep his team in the game.
In the first half, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling thought he had opened the scoring, but his effort was ruled out due to a narrow offside call.
Minutes later, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo saw his header strike the post, before Van Dijk had a goal disallowed following a VAR review.
As the match wore on, Chelsea began to exert their dominance, with Conor Gallagher hitting the post and being denied by Kelleher when one-on-one with the keeper.
However, Liverpool’s young substitutes held firm until the very end, when Van Dijk rose highest to meet a right-wing corner and nod home the winning goal in the 118th minute.
1981
1982
1983
1984
1995
2001
2003
2012
2022
2024… pic.twitter.com/pmQ2CYfLTa— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 25, 2024
This result marks a significant milestone for outgoing Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who could potentially complete a historic quadruple with victories in the remaining cup competitions.
Chelsea, meanwhile, must regroup ahead of their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leeds United, while Liverpool prepare to face Southampton at Anfield on Wednesday evening.