Liverpool won the Carabao Cup in the dying minutes of extra time against Chelsea after captain Virgil van Dijk’s header secured a dramatic 1-0 victory in the final.
Despite a raft of stars absent with injury, Liverpool triumphed after extra time at Wembley courtesy of a towering header from the Dutchman.
In a game where Van Dijk and Raheem Sterling had goals ruled out for offside in either half, the Dutch defender would not be denied a second time as he guided a header into the corner just before the game went to penalties.
Virgil van Dijk thought he had already put Liverpool 1-0 up after 60 minutes with a powerful header from a free kick. The “technical offside” ruled that one out but an extra-time glancing header ensured Liverpool’s man-of-the-match clinched the winner.
Gallagher again had a chance to seal it with five to go, but Kelleher was positive and committed to the block, before a late flurry of Chelsea mis-kicks in added time rescued Liverpool and took them into extra time, when Van Dijk proved the Reds’ hero.
Chelsea offered almost nothing in extra time, despite Liverpool’s injury woes leaving them with a team largely consisting of youngsters by this point. As penalties loomed, Van Dijk rose highest from a corner and, with the 20th shot on target of a thrilling final, landed the decisive blow.
It is the first piece of silverware for Liverpool in Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge of the club – it could yet be followed by three more. Chelsea’s bid to lift their first trophy of the Todd Boehly era fell flat, with Mauricio Pochettino still yet to taste success in English football.
Liverpool’s injury problems then grew further, as Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off after a nasty challenge from Moises Caicedo that left Jurgen Klopp furious.
