Virgil van Dijk’s late goal sent Chelsea reeling, as Liverpool won the Carabao Cup at Wembley, cementing Jurgen Klopp’s legacy once again in the spotlight.
Wembley Stadium, Carabao Cup Final, Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (AET), February 25, 2024
Goal: Van Dijk 118′
A reminder of Jurgen Klopp’s legacy
It seemed that this match was being promoted as little more than the first and least significant leg of Liverpool’s unexpected quadruple campaign, since the League Cup is generally thought of as a “lesser” trophy.
But, when all is said and done, this triumph may eventually be remembered as the quintessential moment of Jurgen Klopp‘s farewell tour and an epitome of the legacy he will leave behind in May.
The German’s spirit and qualities have been carried over into the club’s junior setup and beyond, as Chelsea discovered to their cost.
Because of this, even though it’s been argued time and time again that it’s difficult to replace Klopp, his replacement will really be taking over a successful culture that bodes well for the future.
McConnell, the picture of composure
Choosing a favourite among Gary Neville’s “Klopp’s Kids” would be unfair, as they are all deserving of a great deal of praise for their roles in this victory.
However, it should be noted that James McConnell’s entry into the game with three minutes remaining in normal time was essential to Liverpool’s eventual victory.
Up until then, Alexis Mac Allister had played beautifully, but Chelsea’s dominance in the last few minutes was a testament to the work he had put in.
McConnell, though, made three opportunities, completed 34 of 39 passes, and engaged in six duels to help swing the tide in the Reds’ advantage.
Once midfield control was regained, Liverpool stopped Chelsea’s chances and put themselves in a position to win the game. McConnell played a significant role in this.
Once more, Kelleher the hero!
If Caoimhin Kelleher had known before his most recent League Cup final performance that he would be Liverpool’s hero, he most likely would not have thought it to come from winning the penalty shootout.
Luckily for the Irishman, he was able to assume that role once more, but in a way that was more typical of a custodian.
Throughout the 120 minutes, Kelleher made nine saves to preserve the Reds’ 2.95 xGOT (expected goals on target), which was very absurd. At moments, Kelleher was virtually the only player keeping the Reds’ hopes of winning alive.
It was a performance that deserved two medals and served as a reminder that Klopp isn’t just trying to instill confidence in his players when he claims to have the finest number two keeper in the world.
A true captain of Liverpool is Van Dijk.
Last summer, it was speculated that Jordan Henderson and James Milner, two important leaders in the dressing room, would have left Liverpool with regrets.
However, Van Dijk’s smooth continuation of the dressing room culture is just as worthy of recognition as that duo’s contribution to its creation.
The Dutchman’s status as possibly the best defender in the world certainly helps; to hold Chelsea at bay, he won seven duels and recorded 14 defensive actions.
What you term a captain’s performance is when someone scores a late winner after being been denied one by VAR earlier in the game.
Worries about injuries are the only thing on your mind
After one of the genuinely amazing days in Liverpool’s history, it seems almost absurd to dwell on the bad, but you can guarantee Klopp’s thoughts will soon shift to what lies ahead for his team.
And part of that will be evaluating an injury list that was augmented by Ryan Gravenberch’s departure during the first half.
There may be concerns about ankle ligament injury as the Dutchman was observed using crutches full-time and donning a protective boot.
With six games left in the next 21 days, Liverpool cannot afford to lose Gravenberch to injury, joining the other 11 players who are out. Hopefully, this was simply a precautionary measure.
