Liverpool secured Carabao Cup success at Wembley as Virgil van Dijk‘s late winner condemned Chelsea to a 1-0 defeat, with Jurgen Klopp‘s legacy as soon as once more entrance and centre.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (AET)
Carabao Cup Ultimate, Wembley StadiumFebruary 25, 2024
Objectives: Van Dijk 118′
Jurgen Klopp’s legacy underlined
With the League Cup broadly perceived to be a ‘lesser’ trophy, it felt this sport was being billed as little greater than the primary and least necessary leg of Liverpool’s unlikely quadruple push.
However, when all is alleged and carried out, this victory might finally be considered as the enduring second of Jurgen Klopp‘s farewell tour and an encapsulation of the legacy he’ll depart behind in Might.
As Chelsea discovered to their value, the character and high quality the German has instilled within the first crew runs all the best way into the membership’s youth setup and past.
As such, whereas it has recurrently been stated that following Klopp is the unattainable job, the truth is that his successor is about to inherit a successful tradition that guarantees future success.
McConnell the image of composure
It could be unfair to pick any one in every of what Gary Neville known as ‘Klopp’s Children’ given all deserve enormous credit score for his or her contributions to this win.
However James McConnell‘s arrival into the sport with three minutes of regular time remaining ought to be heralded as essential to Liverpool happening to win the sport.
Alexis Mac Allister had performed brilliantly up till that time, however proof of the work he had put in might be seen in Chelsea dominating the closing phases.
Nevertheless, McConnell helped flip issues again within the Reds’ favour, finishing 34 out of 39 passes, creating three possibilities, and contesting six duels.
With midfield management secured once more, Liverpool stemmed the circulate of Chelsea possibilities and labored themselves right into a place from which the sport might be gained, and McConnell was a serious a part of that.
Kelleher the hero – once more!
Had you instructed Caoimhin Kelleher previous to his final League Cup remaining outing that he can be Liverpool’s hero, he in all probability wouldn’t have imagined it to be by way of scoring the winner in a penalty shootout.
Luckily for the Irishman, he was in a position to tackle that mantle but once more this time round in reasonably extra typical trend for a goalkeeper.
Kelleher stored out a frankly ludicrous 2.95 xGOT (anticipated objectives on course) in making 9 saves throughout the 120 minutes, nearly single-handedly holding the Reds’ probabilities of victory alive at occasions.
It was a efficiency worthy of two medals and a reminder that, when Klopp says he has the perfect quantity two keeper on the earth, he isn’t merely trying to spice up his participant’s confidence.
Van Dijk a real Liverpool captain
It was urged final summer season that Liverpool may probably stay to remorse the lack of two main dressing room leaders in James Milner and Jordan Henderson.
However, whereas that pair’s affect on creating a robust dressing room tradition deserves to be recognised, so too does the seamless method by which Van Dijk has continued it.
It helps that the Dutchman is arguably the perfect defender on the earth, as he confirmed right here in successful seven duels and clocking up 14 defensive actions to maintain Chelsea at bay.
After which to high all of it off by scoring a late winner having beforehand been cruelly denied one by VAR – that’s what you name a captain’s efficiency.
Damage woe the one concern
It feels nearly perverse to give attention to the negatives after one of many really nice days in Liverpool’s historical past, however you’ll be able to guess Klopp’s thoughts will shortly flip to what’s subsequent for his aspect.
And that may contain assessing an harm listing that was added to right here by the lack of Ryan Gravenberch within the first half.
The Dutchman was seen sporting a protecting boot and utilizing crutches at full-time, which suggests there are fears that ankle ligament harm has been sustained.
The hope is that this was only a precautionary measure, as Liverpool can ailing afford to have Gravenberch be a part of the 11 others at the moment on the sidelines when there are six video games to return within the subsequent 21 days.
