Virgil Van Dijk’s extra-time goal ensured Liverpool beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Carabao Cup final to win the title on Sunday.
A frenetic final, which saw VAR deny goals for both sides, was scoreless in 90 minutes and eventually decided deep in extra-time by Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk’s glancing header that means Jurgen Klopp’s final season will end with silverware.
Liverpool entered the final with 10 first-team players, including Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, missing through injury but roared on by their raucous supporters, they competed bravely to see off Chelsea.
The win keeps alive Liverpool’s hopes of an unlikely quadruple, who remain in the hunt for the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.
Reuters reports that Chelsea made a shaky start to the showpiece final but nearly took the lead through Cole Palmer in the 21st minute, whose shot from close-range was spectacularly saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool’s already depleted squad took a further hit after Ryan Gravenberch had to be replaced by Joe Gomez in the 28th minute following a hard challenge on the German international by Moisés Caicedo.
Raheem Sterling thought he’d given Chelsea the lead in the 31st minute, but the linesman adjudged that Nicolas Jackson had strayed offside moments earlier when he’d broken free to cross for the England international.
Down the other end, it was the post that denied Liverpool an opener, after Gakpo’s header from Andy Robertson’s cross left Petrovic rooted to the spot but struck the far upright.
Van Dijk’s powerful header from a Robertson free-kick at the hour-mark cued frantic celebrations in the red end of Wembley, but the goal was ruled out after a prolonged VAR check saw Wataru Endo adjudged offside.
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