Liverpool gained the League Cup in dramatic style when Virgil van Dijk's header late in additional time sealed a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp's injury-hit facet completed off a grueling encounter with a number of uncooked children on the pitch, nevertheless it was their skilled captain who recorded the membership's tenth League Cup victory.
Van Dijk earlier had a purpose controversially disallowed by VAR, however the Dutch defender slotted house with simply two minutes to go.
It was Liverpool's first trophy following Klopp's announcement that he’ll step down on the finish of the season.
The German hopes Liverpool's first silverware because the 2022 FA Cup would be the springboard for an unbelievable farewell tour.
4-time chasing Liverpool high the Premier League, tackle Southampton within the fifth spherical of the FA Cup on Wednesday and tackle Sparta Prague within the final 16 of the Europa League.
It was one other bitter Wembley expertise for Chelsea, who misplaced the 2022 League Cup and FA Cup finals to Liverpool.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has requested Chelsea followers to not choose him on 'profitable titles' amid a troubled first season in cost.
However Chelsea stay with out home silverware because the 2018 FA Cup and had solely themselves responsible after lacking a number of probabilities in common time.
Affected by accidents to 11 gamers, Liverpool's listing of absent gamers included Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.
That meant begins for 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott, whereas six of Klopp's substitutes have been 21 or youthful.
• Objectives excluded –
Regardless of their youthful line-up, Liverpool settled down rapidly as Luis Diaz led the assault.
Diaz took benefit of Chelsea's hesitant protection and superior into the realm for a fierce assault that compelled save from Djordje Petrovic.
In opposition to the movement of play, Chelsea ought to have taken the lead with their first sharp assault.
Conor Gallagher's cross went to Cole Palmer simply six yards out, however his shot drew a superb save from Caoimhin Kelleher.
Ryan Gravenberch joined Liverpool's rising harm listing when he was stretchered off after the midfielder's leg twisted awkwardly throughout a problem with Moises Caicedo.
Raheem Sterling thought he had given Chelsea the lead with Nicolas Jackson's cross from shut vary, however the purpose was disallowed for a good offside towards the Senegalese ahead earlier than his help.
In response to Chelsea's enchancment, Liverpool have been inches away from taking the lead by way of Cody Gakpo, whose glancing header from Andrew Robertson's cross hit the far publish.
Liverpool saved coming and Bradley's purpose shot was brilliantly blocked by Levi Colwill, who threw himself into the fray to disclaim the trouble from shut vary.
Liverpool appeared to have damaged the impasse on the hour mark when Van Dijk climbed above Ben Chilwell to move in Robertson's free-kick.
However VAR intervened, prompting referee Chris Kavanagh to disallow the purpose for offside towards Wataru Endo, who stopped Colwill from marking the Dutch defender.
Axel Disasi ought to have rubbed salt in Liverpool's wounds, however the Chelsea defender created a whole likelihood from shut vary.
Chelsea got here shut once more when Gallagher met Palmer's cross with a kick that hit the far publish.
Gallagher missed a golden alternative to win within the closing minutes. He obtained Palmer's go in acres of area however took a heavy contact permitting Kelleher to avoid wasting.
In an exciting finale, Kelleher made two extra saves in fast succession from Palmer and Christopher Nkunku to drive additional time.
Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jarell Quansah and Jayden Danns have been all up and operating by now, but when Liverpool's children lacked Chelsea's expertise, they have been by no means impressed.
Danns virtually despatched his header over Petrovic and Elliott was simply inches away when he struck the publish.
Liverpool wouldn’t be denied and with penalties simply two minutes away, Van Dijk met Kostas Tsimikas' nook with a header that flashed previous Petrovic as Klopp raised his arms with a smile bordering on disbelief.
AFP