Mauricio Pochettino's side had more than enough chances to win the game, but it was Jurgen Klopp who was celebrating at half time
The delight on Jurgen Klopp's face when the full-time whistle blew was palpable. Someway, somehow, in spite of everything thrown at them before and during the game, Liverpool had managed to get their hands on the Carabao Cup trophy at Chelsea's expense.
The Blues will still be scratching their heads as to how they did not manage to at least get on the scoresheet at Wembley, with Mauricio Pochettino's side spurning a ludicrous amount of chances on an extraordinarily disappointing afternoon for their supporters.
But in the end, after previously having a header ruled out for offside, Virgil van Dijk emerged as the unlikely hero in the capital, meeting Kostas Tsimikas' corner to score the only goal of the game with just a few minutes of extra-time left to play.
So that's one trophy down, three more to go for Klopp, as the legendary Liverpool boss looks to end his iconic Anfield reign on a historic high. For Chelsea, the heartache continues – and it really didn't need to be this way.
GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from a terrific Carabao Cup final…
GettyWINNER: Virgil van Dijk
It's fitting that Van Dijk, a player whose arrival in Merseyside propelled Klopp's side to the next level, was the one to come up big when his manager was in desperate need of a hero. During the in-game hour preceding the Dutchman's 118th-minute winner, the Reds were clinging on for dear life, with Chelsea peppering their goalmouth.
And Van Dijk had already had a potentially-decisive moment ripped away by a controversial offside call in the first half, with Wataru Endo adjudged to have impeded Levi Colwill while in an offside position.
But Van Dijk is a first-class honours graduate from Klopp's 'mentality monsters' finishing school – he always knows when it's time to get things won. And, thus, in the dying embers of extra-time, up he rose, giving Djordje Petrovic no chance in the Chelsea goal. It's the latest in a long line of iconic moments for Van Dijk in a red shirt. What a servant he's been to Klopp and Liverpool.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Conor Gallagher
Gallagher will have watched Van Dijk's dramatic winner and thought: "that should have been me." The Englishman wasn't the only Chelsea player guilty of shoddy finishing on Sunday, but he was by far the worst offender.
Twice in quick succession late in the second half, Gallagher was handed the opportunity to win the game for his side, but on both occasions he let the chance to be the hero slip through his fingers. His first effort was a clever snapshot following a cute cutback, which careered into the post.
Gallagher's second was a much worse miss as he fired straight at Kelleher while one on one with the Liverpool goalkeeper. He only lasted a few minutes of extra-time and the tired shake of his head as he ambled off told the story.
Getty/ GOALWINNER: Caoimhin Kelleher & Djordje Petrovic
This was a game packed to the brim with top-class goalkeeping. Caoimhin Kelleher, currently enjoying one of those runs of form that makes you wonder why he settles for being a No.2, got the party started, making himself big to prevent Cole Palmer scoring from close range following good work from Raheem Sterling.
That was only an appetiser too, with the Irishman taking things up a notch in the second half. When Gallagher was found in acres of space by Cole Palmer four minutes from time, the Red half of Wembley held its breath. They needn't have worried, though, as Kelleher again kept it out. There was still time for one more save before the 90 minutes was up too, as the keeper sucked the ball into his grasp like a magnet at the end of a tortuous goalmouth scramble.
This wasn't all about Liverpool's backup stopper, though. Djordje Petrovic – who few would have expected to be playing regularly for the Blues at the start of the season – had a superb afternoon. And things got spectacular in extra-time, with the Serbian using his feet to somehow prevent Harvey Elliot's back-post header creeping in. Petrovic was beaten soon after, but that shouldn't detract from an excellent day's work for the goalkeeper's union.
GettyLOSER: Liverpool's absentees
The beautiful, embroidered banner in the Liverpool end bore his resemblance, but on the field, the Reds' Egyptian King was nowhere to be seen. And while Mohamed Salah would have enjoyed watching Van Dijk head home that dramatic winner, it will have been a bittersweet day for one of the Premier League's biggest stars.
He was far from the only Liverpool man frustratingly forced to watch on at Wembley. Darwin Nunez – who's been so effective recently – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones were some of Klopp's other missing parts, but the list goes on.
A lot of those players have special relationships with Klopp and they will be acutely aware that time is running out for them to create more memories together. So missing out on this Wembley showpiece will be difficult to take.
