In a thrilling Carabao Cup final showdown at Wembley Stadium, Virgil van Dijk’s late header in extra time propelled a resilient but under-strength Liverpool to a sensational victory over Chelsea.
Despite having a goal disallowed earlier in the match, Van Dijk rose above the Chelsea defense to nod home a crucial winner from a corner delivered by Kostas Tsimikas in the 118th minute.
Liverpool’s triumph, their 10th in the prestigious competition, was achieved amidst significant setbacks, with key players such as Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota sidelined due to injuries. The loss of Ryan Gravenberch to injury during the match added to the challenges faced by Jurgen Klopp’s side.
While Liverpool celebrated their first step towards a potential quadruple in Klopp’s farewell season, the defeat was a bitter pill for Chelsea and manager Mauricio Pochettino, who have now suffered six consecutive defeats in Wembley finals, including three against Liverpool.
The game was a tale of missed opportunities and outstanding goalkeeping performances. Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher once again showcased his prowess with crucial saves, reminiscent of his heroics in the 2022 EFL Cup final against Chelsea.
Despite a tense first half, both teams unleashed a flurry of attacks in the second period. Van Dijk thought he had broken the deadlock on the hour mark, only for his goal to be controversially ruled out following a VAR intervention. Conor Gallagher came agonizingly close for Chelsea, hitting the woodwork and being thwarted by Kelleher’s heroics.
In extra time, both goalkeepers continued to shine, with Djordje Petrovic denying Liverpool’s attempts and Kelleher producing miraculous saves to keep Chelsea at bay.
However, it was Van Dijk’s decisive header that sealed another memorable Wembley victory for Liverpool and left Pochettino still in pursuit of his first trophy in English football.
