Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s veteran manager, steered his team to Carabao Cup triumph, giving Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour its first trophy.
The Dutchman scored from a 118th-minute winning corner, after an earlier effort was controversially rejected by VAR, as the Reds punished Chelsea to their sixth consecutive Wembley Cup defeat.
In a frantic, VAR-infested final, Raheem Sterling’s first-half shot was foiled by a linesman’s flag.
However, while Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool draws to a close, Chelsea’s new era is nowhere from taking off.
Mauricio Pochettino, who has yet to win a trophy in English football, was embarrassed by his side’s defeat to such patched-up, immature opponents.
With Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai all out due to injuries, Pochettino and his players should have been encouraged by the Liverpool team sheet.
The mood on Wembley Way had been lacklustre as fans of two top clubs accustomed to playing finals here mingled quietly.
This is not the grudge match of the Mourinho-Benitez era, yet both fanbases swapped songs about Steven Gerrard, who once submitted a transfer request to leave Liverpool for Chelsea.
Chelsea had lost two of their previous five finals to the Reds in penalty shootouts following goalless draws in 2022, and this was poised for a similar outcome until Van Dijk’s late strike.
For Liverpool fans, it was their first opportunity to boo God Save The King at Wembley Stadium, having previously drowned out God Save The Queen countless times.
However, the Blues got off to a shaky start, with Levi Colwill appearing especially nervous at the heart of the defence, and their custodian Djordje Petrovic was quickly forced to make a good save from a powerful Luis Diaz attempt.
Jurgen Klopp’s injury crisis worsens as Liverpool star is carried off on stretcher in Carabao Cup final.
Still, Chelsea came near on 21 minutes, with Sterling having a good sight of goal but being blocked by Conor Bradley, and Conor Gallagher’s close-range shot being well saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Then it was time for VAR to do its regular thing: get everything wrong.
Moises Caicedo committed a terrible late challenge on Ryan Gravenberch, leaving him writhing on the touchline, but referee Chris Kavanagh, who is routinely one of the Premier League’s worst officials, missed it, and his VAR John Brooks did not consider it worthy of a straight red card.
Gravenberch was substituted for Joe Gomez, forcing Bradley to play in midfield as part of Klopp’s massive change.
A questionable offside call cost Raheem Sterling a score.
Cole Palmer’s through ball found Jackson, who set up Sterling for a goal.
However, Jackson was signalled offside, and despite the Chelsea striker appearing to be onside, Brooks once again refused to play.
Liverpool came close again, with Cody Gakpo banging a header against the post and Brdaley having a shot stopped following more frightening work by Diaz.
Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead, but his effort was called off due to offside.
Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead, but his effort was called off due to offside.Credit: Reuters.
VAR was again used when Van Dijk headed Liverpool ahead (11).
It was exciting in a scruffy, scrappy, contentious sense, and before halftime, Ben Chilwell and Bradley were booked for shoving after colliding on the touchline.
After the break, Diaz was cheering on the Liverpool fans after forcing a corner, and Harvey Elliott’s acrobatic effort was blocked by Petrovic.
Gallagher handed Enzo Fernandez with a good opportunity, and he blew it.
Finally, it was back to Stockley Park.
