Undermined by injuries, not helped by VAR, Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool found the resources to overcome Chelsea in the League Cup final (1-0 ap) on Sunday thanks to a goal from captain Virgil van Dijk at the end of the extension.
In 20 years in the profession, “this is the most special trophy I have won”, enthused Klopp, over the moon. Usually, “these things don’t happen in football,” he insisted. “What we saw today is so exceptional… Maybe we will never see it again.”
The Reds, current leaders of the Premier League, offered themselves a new fairy tale in their rich history thanks to a winning helmet strike from the Dutch defender, deprived of a goal on the hour mark, already with a header, cause of a partner’s offside.
This time, his missile hit the mark and delivered his passionate, ecstatic supporters, lulled by the screams and the red smoke bombs lit in their packed corner at Wembley.
Liverpool wins its first trophy since 2022, when it had already beaten Chelsea, on penalties, in the final of the two national cups.
Liverpool player Harvey Elliott after his team’s 1-0 victory against Chelsea in the English League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024. / Glyn KIRK / AFP
Above all, it is the first since the surprise announcement of the departure at the end of the season of Klopp, emblematic coach of the last decade. Until then, he will be able to dream of a fantastic quadruple with the Premier League, the “Cup” and the Europa League.
At the final whistle, he first came to embrace Ryan Gravenberch, one of his countless injured, who came to enjoy the party on the side of the field, crutch in hand. A symbolic image.
Young people on the front line
The Mersey club indeed traveled to Wembley with a procession of injured players, from Alisson Becker to Trent Alexander-Arnold via Curtis Jones and his trio of attackers Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
In this situation, the substitutes’ bench was populated by Trey Nyoni, 16 years old, or the young adults Jayden Danns (18 years old), James McConnell and Bobby Clark (19 years old), who entered in the second half.
Injured Liverpool player Ryan Gravenberch is evacuated on a stretcher during the English League Cup final won 1-0 by Liverpool against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024. / Glyn KIRK / AFP
To add insult to injury, Gravenberch was taken off on a stretcher in the first half hour, injured in his left ankle after Moises Caicedo’s sole was not whistled by the referee.
Despite this incident, the show crescendoed in a packed stadium, with opportunities, twists and turns and a fiery atmosphere.
Caoimhin Kelleher, with his arm, repelled a point-blank shot from Cole Palmer (21st) and bowed to Raheem Sterling, whose goal was canceled for an offside, by a hair, from the passer Nicolas Jackson (31st ).
Liverpool also had a false joy, and even crueler. Van Dijk shook the nets (60th) before the red turn of his supporters, euphoric then showered by VAR and an offside from a partner.
Chelsea sans Europe?
There was 1-1 in the invalidated goals, and 2-1 in the posts found: those of Cody Gakpo (40th) Harvey Elliott (115th) for Liverpool, against that of Conor Gallagher (76th), blocked ten minutes later by an impeccable exit from Kelleher (86th).
A few minutes later, the Irish goalkeeper also made a save then made a save in a crazy action. Ibrahima Konaté also played firefighter on duty, in the duel with Christopher Nkunku (90th + 2).
But in the end, as is often the case against Chelsea, it was Liverpool who won, extending the drought of the “Blues” and their coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentinian, who arrived last summer, left Tottenham (2014–2019) empty-handed and will still have to wait to win with his young Chelsea team, eleventh in the Premier League, 25 points behind Liverpool.
You have to “feel the pain” of the moment, then “move forward,” he summarized. “We are still a young team, you can’t compare us to Liverpool.”
Owner BlueCo and co-shareholder Todd Boehly, in place since the summer of 2022, are currently struggling to see the light after having injected more than a billion pounds sterling into transfers.
They may have lost all hope of seeing Europe next season on Sunday. The League Cup offered, at least, a ticket for the play-offs for the Europa Conference League.