Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET): Late Virgil van Dijk header wins Carabao Cup for Jurgen Klopp's young guns

Virgil van Dijk headed an extra-time winner two minutes from the end as Jurgen Klopp’s kids led Liverpool to a famous 1-0 Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea.

The depleted Merseysiders, who were without a host of first-choice stars including Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, suffered another injury blow when Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off early on.

Chelsea were denied a first-half opener when Caoimhin Kelleher produced a sensational close-range stop to keep out Cole Palmer before Raheem Sterling’s goal was chalked off for a marginal offside.

Liverpool also had their moments but Cody Gakpo saw a header come back off the post and Van Dijk then had a goal controversially chalked off following a VAR intervention on the hour.

Chelsea’s greater strength in depth looked like it would tell and after Conor Gallagher hit the post, the Blues midfielder was denied by Kelleher when sent clean through.

Liverpool threw on a host of youngsters, who held their own for the majority of extra time before Van Dijk completed the first leg of a potential farewell quadruple for Klopp with an 118th-minute header from a corner.

The two sides will now switch focus to the FA Cup fifth round with Chelsea hosting Leeds United and Liverpool at home to Southampton on Wednesday night.

If there is to be a sensational climax for Klopp’s Anfield tenure then this was the perfect boost.

The Reds’ squad has been ravaged by injury to the point where the Merseysiders went from clear favourites to underdogs heading into this final.

Many managers would have stuck with his experienced players despite tiring legs, but the German showed great faith in the club’s academy products and it paid dividends as they all stepped up to the plate on the biggest of stages.

This was a record-extending 10th League Cup triumph for the Anfield giants and could provide the perfect springboard for more success as the second part of the season surges towards the business end.

Liverpool are top of the Premier League and still in contention in the latter stages of the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League. With a host of names still out injured it remains a tall order but the belief throughout the entire squad means the fairytale farewell remains on.

An imperious display from the man many believe to be the best centre back in the world. His calming presence at the back was crucial throughout, but particularly when Klopp rejigged his defence and flooded the rest of the team with the fresh legs of youngsters. The Dutchman was unlucky to have a goal in normal time chalked off, but stepped up right at the death to ensure he would lift his first trophy since being installed as Liverpool’s captain.

Liverpool: Kelleher 9, Bradley 8, Konate 8, van Dijk 10, Robertson 8, Endo 9, Mac Allister 8, Gravenberch 7, Elliott 8, Diaz 8, Gakpo 7. Subs: Gomez 8, Clark 8, Danns 8, Tsimikas 8, McConnell 8, Quansah 6.

Chelsea: Petrovic 7, Gusto 7, Colwill 8, Disasi 7, Chilwell 7, Enzo 7, Gallagher 8, Caicedo 6, Palmer 8, Sterling 7, Jackson 8. Subs: Nkunku 6, Mudryk 6, Madueke 6, Chalobah 5.

21’ CHELSEA CHANCE! Palmer sees a shot from close range magnificently kept out by Kelleher after Sterling's ricochet had fallen his way from Gallagher's pass.

33’ CHELSEA CHANCE! Jackson bursts into the right channel to beat Liverpool's high line and lay the ball across for Sterling to fire home at the far post. VAR checks and it's very, very close but the lines show it to be just offside... Still 0-0.

39’ LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Gakpo rises in the middle of the area to guide a lovely downward header against the post from Robertson's cross.

43’ LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Diaz surges down the left and plays in Elliott on the overlap, whose cut back across the middle of the box sees Gakpo blocked out. It falls for Diaz again and he tees up Bradley whose goal-bound effort is diverted away inside the six-yard box.

60’ LIVERPOOL GOAL CHALKED OFF! Van Dijk meets Robertson's left-wing free kick and guides a lovely header into the far corner. Liverpool celebrate at length and then VAR intervenes for a block by Endo from an offside. The referee is asked to check the pitch-side monitor and eventually decides to disallow it.

76’ CHELSEA CHANCE! Gallagher's first-time shot flashes back off the far post from Palmer's low ball on the right.

84’ CHELSEA CHANCE! Gallagher is set clear on Kelleher, but the keeper stands tall and produces a superb 1-on-1 save!

118’ GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Van Dijk): This time it counts! Virgil van Dijk meets a right-wing corner and guides it into the far corner to surely win the cup for the Merseysiders!

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