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 Closing, Wembley Stadium
February 25, 2024
Targets: Van Dijk 118′
Jurgen Klopp’s legacy underlined
With the League Cup extensively perceived to be a ‘lesser’ trophy, it felt this recreation 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 executed, this victory might finally be seen as the long-lasting second of Jurgen Klopp‘s farewell tour and an encapsulation of the legacy he'll go away behind in Might.
As Chelsea discovered to their price, 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 frequently been mentioned that following Klopp is the unimaginable 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 considered one of what Gary Neville referred to 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 needs 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 levels.
Nonetheless, McConnell helped flip issues again within the Reds’ favour, finishing 34 out of 39 passes, creating three probabilities, and contesting six duels.
With midfield management secured once more, Liverpool stemmed the movement of Chelsea probabilities and labored themselves right into a place from which the sport might be received, and McConnell was a significant a part of that.
Kelleher the hero – once more!
Had you informed Caoimhin Kelleher previous to his final League Cup remaining outing that he could be Liverpool’s hero, he in all probability wouldn't have imagined it to be by means of scoring the winner in a penalty shootout.
Fortuitously for the Irishman, he was capable of tackle that mantle but once more this time round in moderately extra typical vogue for a goalkeeper.
Kelleher saved out a frankly ludicrous 2.95 xGOT (anticipated objectives on the right track) in making 9 saves throughout the 120 minutes, nearly single-handedly holding the Reds’ probabilities of victory alive at instances.
It was a efficiency worthy of two medals and a reminder that, when Klopp says he has the most effective quantity two keeper on the planet, he isn’t merely making an attempt to spice up his participant’s confidence.
Van Dijk a real Liverpool captain
It was advised final summer season that Liverpool might probably dwell 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 during which Van Dijk has continued it.
It helps that the Dutchman is arguably the most effective defender on the planet, 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.
Harm woe the one concern
It feels nearly perverse to concentrate on the negatives after one of many really nice days in Liverpool’s historical past, however you may guess Klopp’s thoughts will shortly flip to what's subsequent for his aspect.
And that may contain assessing an harm checklist that was added to right here by the lack of Ryan Gravenberch within the first half.
The Dutchman was seen carrying a protecting boot and utilizing crutches at full-time, which suggests there are fears that ankle ligament injury has been sustained.
The hope is that this was only a precautionary measure, as Liverpool can sick afford to have Gravenberch be part of the 11 others at present on the sidelines when there are six video games to come back within the subsequent 21 days.
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